Will I lose my nursing license for a traffic violation?

K9lover, ASN, RN · Sep 19, 2019

My dad was a 30 year LAPD vet and an invaluable source of all matters legal which he impressed upon me in driving-related matters. That and my adult son had his share of 'driving adventures' when young.

I would get a lawyer and attempt to get that misdemeanor reduced to an infraction given even with no effect on nursing license it will effect your insurance rates dearly and if you wanted to work in home health/hospice would effect that.

It is 2 points on DMV record and you want to avoid that if possible (a DUI is 2 points also so that does impact insurance et al) If you can get it reduced it would be worth it, if you say slide in the snow and hit a car this winter that is one point for DMV, that leaves you one point away from an automatic 6 month drivers license suspension.

So while it will not likely cause any issues with the BRN you want to avoid issues with the other less than forgiving governing bodies...the DMV and your insurance carrier. I'd get an attorney and at least find out what your options are. best of luck.

K9lover, ASN, RN · Sep 19, 2019

22 hours ago, Here.I.Stand said:
You know the more I think about it, the more I think this SHOULD affect your license. Your extreme lack of judgment makes me concerned for your ability to utilize good judgment at work....
and the fact that you are more concerned about YOURSELF than horrified about the possibility of hitting a CHILD coming around that school bus... that’s bordering on sociopathic.

Good Lord, you don't know how she feels about it, she could be crying herself to sleep each night for all you know and you have diagnosed her as a sociopath because she asked if this driving offense will have an impact on her nursing license!

She came here to ask a question specific to a traffic ticket and you have determined she lacks judgement, should have her nursing license effected and is beset with severe psychiatric issues. Would you suggest she prefaced this question with statements that she attempted suicide over the remorse, ran to the bus begging forgiveness of the children as a sobbing wreck, offered the parents half of all her future earnings after changing careers to a school bus crossing guard and, if Catholic, completed 50000 hail Marys?

Wow, you sound like the detective with whom I interviewed for work in corrections who adjudicated me as having gotten away with 100 felonies for 1980's cocaine use prior to getting clean & sober (also in the 1980's.) Really, nobody knows anything about this nurse other than the traffic ticket she received and I have seen some harsh replies but yours tops this list.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2019

In my state, when the BON asks about criminal conduct, it specifically omits traffic violations from consideration in the question. The OP may be worrying about nothing. She should contact her BON and just ask them.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 19, 2019

OP: as others have already said, you need to check with your state's BON to determine if you need to report it. If you aren't sure whether it falls into the category of reportable, you should seek legal advice as we can't give that here.

You may also want to consider bringing an attorney to court with you to help mitigate the damage this could do to your driving record. There's a world of difference between misdemeanor and infraction, and if you're going to have one of them on your record, you want the infraction if at all possible. The misdemeanor will do more than just affect your license renewal...it's also going to be something you might have to disclose when applying for jobs and employers ask those lovely Criminal History questions.

Since the OP's question has been answered--several times over--I'm closing this for now.

Best of luck, OP.