WA RN hopeful with a DUI: Keep going or give up?

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WA resident. Got charged w/DUI on 7/27/19.
Graduated From a inpatient program, continued with Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient, and currently Outpatient treatment (set to graduate April).
I find out my conviction sometime in March.
I am a CNA, as soon as I know what happens, I will self report and get onto the state monitoring program. I have completed the victims panel too. MIND YOU: ALL of these activities I have completed were VOLUNTARY. Nothing has been court mandated. I have a lawyer of course

I am a hopeful RN. I talked to one of the monitoring board managers (part of WAbon) and they said I should be fine from schooling all the way to licensing Given all the work I’ve done.

im not doing deferred prosecution because I was told to “save it” if it happens again (GOD FORBID because this has been a nightmare, NEVER EVER AGAIN).

every once in a while I get the panic attacks thinking my career is over. But I know I’m not the only person in the healthcare field that’s struggling with something like this. Please don’t shame me for the DUI. That is not the point. What’s done is done, and I’ll be wearing that scarlet letter for the rest of my career. Please don’t remind me of such. Any advice/encouraging words/experiences/the like would be much appreciated.

thank you.

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Specializes in ER.

Hi there!

I'm so sorry that you're going through this! You are not alone!

I would recommend calling lawyers who have experience dealing with the BRN and see what they say. That's what I did for my situation...however, my incident (resulted in a felony drug charge) occurred over a decade ago.

You need to write an honest letter of explanation and include it with your application. Discuss the situation, what you've learned from it, and what you are doing now to prevent a reoccurrence to be a safe practicing nurse. Also, it's important to include certified court documents, police reports, rehab records, and letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your rehabilitation efforts. If you can, I think it'd be super helpful if you got a substance abuse evaluation to further strengthen your application. I'd include everything with your initial application so that it speeds up your application process. I can't say if the WA BRN will issue you an unencumbered license because your incident is pretty recent. BUT don't give up!!

I would also read through AN and see what others did to get licensures. I did, and it was super helpful.

Best of luck! xoxoxo

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Specializes in ER.

Are you currently a nursing student?

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3 hours ago, jajaja said:

Are you currently a nursing student?

Not yet. Pre-requisites expired right at 5 years, so I have to start over ?

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Specializes in ER.
17 hours ago, purpleapple428 said:

im not doing deferred prosecution because I was told to “save it” if it happens again (GOD FORBID because this has been a nightmare, NEVER EVER AGAIN).

Is there any way you can request to enter deferred prosecution if it's not too late? It'll allow your charge to be expunged...especially if you will do what it takes to never let it happen again. If not, you will have a misdemeanor conviction on your record.

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On 1/13/2020 at 7:30 PM, jajaja said:

Is there any way you can request to enter deferred prosecution if it's not too late? It'll allow your charge to be expunged...especially if you will do what it takes to never let it happen again. If not, you will have a misdemeanor conviction on your record.

My state doesn’t do expungement. So even if I do deferred prosecution, it’s still going to show up.

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Specializes in ER.
On 1/14/2020 at 8:25 PM, purpleapple428 said:

My state doesn’t do expungement. So even if I do deferred prosecution, it’s still going to show up.

Oops. I meant to say -- if you proceed with deferred sentencing aka "nolo contendere" and complete probation without incidences, charges or a guilty plea should be dismissed. Then there shouldn't be a "conviction" listed on your record. I'd check out the specifics for your state. Good luck

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Washington seems to be one of the chiller states regarding this. Currently in the process of getting licensed there and it doesn't seem like they are giving me any grief regarding a 6 year old dui. Unlike many states they didn't even ask for police reports or letters of rec, just the court paperwork and a letter of explanation.

Do some googling, there is somewhere a document online outlining exactly how the Washington BRN will likely handle various charges. It says a dui is likely not an issue after a period of time ( 3 or 5 years) I believe but I don't have the document in front of me. It might also be worth calling the BRN, the Washington state BRN is pretty friendly and answers quickly unlike some other states.

Lastly if there is a way of of preventing this going on your record, do that, it'll be better if you don't have to report this to employers, but likely not the end of the world if you do.

Keep your head up! This isn't the end of your career, just please keep it at one

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Specializes in Emergency Department, Pediatrics, Home Health.

In WA state they don't have expungements, they have what is called "vacate". It is basically a one time option to take something off of your record. I do not know the ins and outs of that but you can get certain things "sealed" per say. Good luck to you

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Hey @purpleapple428, wanted to follow up on this. Where you able to take your NCLEX and get licensed? I am in the same predicament and wanted to know if I should still pursue nursing. 

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