Nurses and DUI Charges: Don't Drive Buzzed or Drunk!!!

This has been an interesting year already. I have received three phone inquiries from nurses about DUI charges and its nursing licensure impact.

A RN in Cincinnati, Ohio was sentenced to 6 years in prison this week (the article appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer) for a car crash that left one dead and another seriously injured. Her blood alcohol level was twice the legally permissible level.

Do not drive intoxicated! If you have a few drinks (beer, shots, wine, etc.) then have someone drive. Don't drive. Catch a cab or have a friend or family member pick you up. You may not think you are drunk but don't take that chance.

In the end the extra effort can save lives, your employment, and your nursing license. Also when a licensed professional is charged with a crime, the headlines say:  Nurse Charged with DUI, Lawyer Charged with Theft Crimes, Teached Indicted for Misconduct, etc.

Whether or not you have to report a DUI conviction depends on the state(s) where you are licensed. If you have been charged with a DUI or DWI, contact a licensure defense attorney associated with The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) for a consultation. See www.taana.org.

Comments

[latonia]

Thank you for your comment Stephanie. I would highly suggest that you contact a nurse attorney or adminstrative law attorney who represents nurses in Michigan as well as Colorado for specific advice and counsel related to your situation and the impact of the DUI.

In Michigan, contact Carol Holmes. Her website address is as follows: http://www.carolholmespc.com/

[g]

hi i am in cna school now and have 3 juvenile misdemeanors and 1 felony and on my adult record i have a DUI.None of which are disqualifying offenses for the board.And nursing homes can only check adult records in Florida.So what are my chances of finding a job with a first time DUI.

[latonia]

Hi G,

I would suggest you speak with a license defense or administative law attorney in Florida about your job prospects after your CNA training with a DUI. I don't practice law in Florida and I am not familiar with the employment of healthcare professionals in Florida therefore I cannot answer your question. See www.taana.org or you can post your question in an online forum for nurses and healthcare professionals in Florida.

[Liz]

Dear Latonia,
I have been a California RN for nearly 18 years. In January of this year, I got a dui. No accident or injury involved so I thank God for that. It is a misdemeanor. I am meeting the courts requirements, and adhering to the laws of my dui probation. What I am mostly worried about now is how will this affect my license? I have to renew in December, and will have to self report this dui conviction. Can you tell me what the steps are, what happens when they accuse you?
I am wondering how we can be punished twice, and both are very harsh. I understand the court's punishment, but not the BRN. I have never had a problem or complaint against my license. I don't understand the double jeoprady of this system. Please help. I appreciate this web site, it is the only one I have been able to find that offers me any help. By the way, my Boss knows about my Dui. I told her about it back in january, as well as my DON.
Thank you so much
Frazzled Califronia Nurse

[latonia]

Hi Liz,

Thank you for your comment and your kind words about my blog. You have made my day!

I don't know how the CA Board of RNursing looks at DUIs because I am not licensed to practice law in CA. I would suggest that you contact Melanie Balestra, who is a NP and an attorney in California. Melanie has experience representing nurses before the Boards of Nursing in CA. Take care of yourself and either consult with or retain a nurse license defense attorney in California with Nursing Board experience to assist you.

[Nurse Liz]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
God Bless you, and I will let you know how it goes.
Liz

[Gina]

I have a very different type of nursing job that I may not be able to keep it due to a DUI. I was parked on the side of the road calling for someone to pick me up, out of the car, knowing that after a few drinks, I could not drive. Stupid me was happy to see cops thinking they would help me with a ride home and I was still charged with DWI! My lawyer thinks he could plead me down to DUI and this is a good thing??? And I am an RN. I am a single parent of 2 children, put myself through college and have my 4 year nursing just obtained RN license in 2008. Had my LPN for 6 years. However, I am a community health nurse who drives for a living house to house. I am in the state of New York and with a hardship license, and a conditional license, which at the minimum will be 3 months, I will only be able to drive to and from the office between the normal hours. I may lose my job, just due to the nature of the conditional license. Not to mention the lawyer fees, the license fees, the court fees the increase in my car insurance. Attempting to do the right thing? I have nothing else on my license, not even a parking ticket! I don't feel I should just take a DUI and have to deal with it with my nursing license and my job at stake. Any help with this????

[latonia]

Hi Gina,

I would suggest you contact a nurse license defense attorney immediately in New York. Contact Edie Brous who is a buddy of mine and an excellent attorney. She represents nurses before the Board.

[lisa]

i got a dui last year 2008 in illinois, i now live in indiana and i am still in school. I am wondering if i can still get into nursing school here and get a rn license. it was my ist offense and all the fines and classes are done. any recommendations are appreciated, thanks

-worried life ruined

[latonia]

Lisa,

Thank you for your comment. I would suggest that you contact a IN nurse license defense attorney for a consultation regarding the specifics of your situation. You can contact my office to schedule an telephone appt. if you are interested.

[LaTonia]

Thank you for contacting me. I would suggest that you contact Melanie Balestra who is licensed in CA or Kathleen Murphy who is licensed in CA and NV.

[Ed]

I am an RN in Ca and got my first and last DUI in February. I completed all court mandated programs and classes. I just sent my renewal for my RN license to the California Board or RNs and now I await for the next step. Should i retain an attorney or wait for the board to contact me first. I dont know what the Board is going to require from me...help

[LaTonia]

Dear Ed,

I would suggest you contact a CA licensed nurse attorney now. Both Melanie Balestra and Kathleen Murphy are nurse attorneys who are licensed to practice law in CA.

[Sandra]

I still shake my head when nurses or nursing appicants anyone associated with the profession fail to see the coorlation between DUI's and their licensure.
Its called character, responsibility and knowing what your licensure law and codes are.
Obviously none of the people here making comments about the importance of maintaining responsibility ever had to clean off the pavement after a drunk or buzzed driver killed an innocent family. Geezzzz people get a grip here, it does matter and ignorance is no excuse.

[Sue Ann]

Hello; I'm an RN in WI (compact state) and I also hold a CA RN license. I will be having misdemeanor charges brought up against me so. I cashed a LTD check after I went back to work. How do you think this will affect my RN license? Thank you,

[LaTonia]

Hi Sue,

You should contact TAANA at wwww.taana.org for a referral to a nurse attorney in your jurisdiction ASAP.