I have 2 dui's and need to find a job

[lonelylibra]

I hope someone can help me,
I got let go from my job in Novemer 2011. Trying to get over this I got drunk and got a dui, my 2 in 9yrs. Currently I'm in outpt. treatment and go to AA.  I'm a nurse and it's hard for me to get a job because I now have a criminal record. It's realy hard to find a job right now............any where. I'm looking into different areas such as retail, office work, but every application asks if you have ever been arrested. Does anyone have any advice to offer? Anything that would give me a glimmer of light.......thank you.

[recovered45]

Hello; I am a DVM, PHD in Neuroscience and for 12 years have worked with MDs and RNs, many with problems far worse than yours.
I cannot imagine someone with such a time lapse between DUIs, tx, and AA involvement, could be blocked from employment. I commend your recovery and hang in there! I have seen professionals found practicing under the influence suspended, get re-instatement, and be great!

gIVEN YOUr RECOVERY AND RESOLVE TO BE WELL I advise you to the best lawyer for your type of case; Todd and Beth COLLIS, in Ohio (where are you)? They only work with RNs, and know about DUIs, past terminations, and do great work. Seek counsel, do not go it alone!

I genuinely wish you THE BEST and sense your genuine resolve to be well and a great health professional! God's grace upon you and keep us posted, I am recovered from a gambling addiction (stock options) and have been clean and working 5 years now!

JOHN moyers, DVM, PHD, MA, MS, EMT-B, Paramedic, CCRN, board certified pathologist (changed careers in 2010 4 years after fiance was decapitated-she and driver were drunk when they died)

STAY WELL and get a lawyer who specializes in this area!

[ibizan]

My mother is in assisted Alzheimers living w.Lewy Body Dementia.She has been there for almost seven years.The cost of her care plus meds is close to $6000/month!I have stories of nursing staff who stolen her Ativan plus one nurse ordering her Tramadol......when she is allergic to it,stealing it....trying to charge it to her bill, and the home administrator covering up for it cuz they don't want an incident report filed.One nurse was fired,never reported to BON and passed on2 another facility!Our family has taken the stance that this will never be tolerated for our mother.I will never have the $$$$ it takes to be in a facility like this God forbid i be struck w/Alzheimers,and if i did I'd want it to go to a worthy cause like a good dog rescue group.After watching some of the BS that goes on in there...and is permitted to go on by the Administrator....my prayer is that i take myself out peacefully should i become incapacitated to avoid this poor care and blatant fraud.

[ibizan]

i think u meant ur response to go to stillanurse and cassiei03.......i'm a recovering alcoholic/addict licensed substance abuse counselor who works w/impaired professionals!Ohio has a 3 year program as well....we are asked to try to verify to best of our ability one's total abstinence from ALL mood altering substances!Urine tests really don't measure blood alcohol well....for it to show up the next morn in one shows some MORE than normal drinking the nite before.We do our jobs for the protection of the public!My mother is 94 years old in Alzhiemers assisted living with Lewy Body Dementia.Some of her caregivers were let go due to drug/alcohol issues.If ur parents are still alive...would u want impaired caregivers handling them?I hear ur anger...it sounds like you still have issues regarding abstinence from alcohol!

[Susand3238]

I am 64, had a DUI 8 years ago.  I can't stand the nasty people, the shrinks who think they are all that!  I want my license, but have been doing care giving.  They are always needed in homes or in nursing !!  The one accident I had didn't hurt anyone thankfully.  PA puts you in a 3 year program, which I had just completed until my last verbal evaluation!  Then didn't the shrink pull out a pee test kit!!  I thought I'd die.  The night before, I even told her, that I had had pina coladas put together by a doc neighbor in celebration of me getting my license.  I hate the shrinks and everyone I have had to deal with.  They think they are God Almighty.  I have been doing care giving jobs.  Not fun!!  Yours is a misdemeanor, right?  If a felony, that's different.  At this age, I don't know weather to let it go or not.  I only got my license in 1995, an older student, but passed the boards with flying colors.  Am looking for a pharm tech job and only thinking about getting my license back.  I don't know what to do!!

[stillanurse100]

I know exactly what you mean. I am in a similar situation with a DUI and a work related incident with myself but had nothing to do with a patient. I had alcohol in my system while working as a scheduling coordinator in a home health agency. ( I was NOT doing patient care) BON took my license and I was completely devasted.It has been 3 years and now I am mentally ready to go jump through the hoops to get it back. (3 year revocation) I have no idea where to start. But i am going to do it. Thats the thing you have to do what it takes to redeem who you are. Do not let the BON define who are and what you will become. I work now as a caregiver,... and I went back to school for business to keep my head on someting positive plus the finacial aide stipends helps with my finances. You can do this because YOU, WE don't have a choice. We have to prove that even as nurses we are human, but we can become sucessful again. Patience, Prayer and Support systems(like this) is my best  advice.Anyone out there that can be a help to me I would appreciate it as well
Good Luck

[ibizan]

I work w/ impaired professionals......and when u lose a nursing license and u want it back u gotta jump thru the hoops of the Board of Nursing in your state.Difficult indeed but its how the ball rolls.Got a nurse client of mine now waitressing......hates it but she realizes she did the crime....now she gotta work da time!hang in there......do what u gotta do to get it back!

[cassi03]

I have been a RN for 20 years.  I found myself addicted to pain killers and low and behold I took a couple from a patient.  I got caught, not only did I lose my great job but I was slapped with a felony.  So not only am I unemployed but my license is suspended for 5 years.  I am still in the court system trying to drop the felony to a misdemeanor.  I feel like I'm in hell.  I was volunteering at SHARE and they are closing their doors.  I feel like I will go crazy just sitting around.  I have no idea what to do.  I have started a 3 month period of having to do a **** test every week and pay for it and go to meetings 2/week with documentation along with counseling and their reports if after 3 consecutive months I succeed I will get my license but "limited" so I can't pass narcotics.  Who the hell would hire me with a misdemeanor and a limited license.  I to am looking at waitressing or retail but hell I am a nurse at heart thats just what I do.  I also would love any advice or courage anyone can give me.....Cassie

[lonelylibra]

Thank you for your words of encouragement, it's just what I needed to hear today! And to answer your question ibizan, no I have not notified BON. There has been so much going on with lawyers and court dates and possible house arrest that it realy slipped my mind. Holy cow, going to do it right now!

Thank you

[boognell]

You do realize that in drug/alcohol rehab settings, generally almost all the staff is recovering themselves (nurses, doctors, counselors) so that they can empathize with the patients. Did you notify the Board of Nursing about your DUI? Are they OK with it? If so, the next time I filled out an application that asked the criminal record, I would keep it extremely brief, e.g.: " DUI 11/2011. Outpt. tx. successful. Currently attends AA regularly. Nursing Board aware." How about private duty nursing? There are ads online and in newspaper classifieds. Private nursing also pays well. Well, that's all I have for now, my friend. Good luck, God bless, keep me posted.

[ibizan]

R u going the the PA State Board of Nursing to get ur license back?i know its a lotta hoop jumping...i work w/impaired professionals...nurses,pharmacists etc....and many of them take a job they don't want or like til they can get their license reinstated.If ur a RN u worked hard to get that license....work hard to stay sober.....don't let that license go or give up.....one day at a time.....and u can be back in ur profession.Many that i've worked w/had/have problems w/narcotic drugs so if they work hard and got their license back so can u!sometimes u can find work in medical records just not doing patient care.Keep us posted...and keep posting!