What Happens if a Nurse Gets a DUI in Chester County?

If you’re a nurse licensed in Pennsylvania, a DUI not only carries possible criminal penalties, but it could also impact your ability to work. Depending on the circumstances, your license could be suspended or revoked. If you’re a nurse charged with a Chester County DUI, the Skinner Law Firm can help your criminal and professional defense.

Whether you work in a small medical practice, a school, an outpatient clinic, or Chester County Hospital, you need your job. In addition to what you may have to do because of the criminal charges, you need to protect your nursing license.

You may consider hiding your DUI. But, under the State Board of Nursing’s regulations, you have to report an arrest, conviction, no contest plea, probation without a verdict, or an accelerated rehabilitative disposition program. Your failure to comply could be grounds for discipline.

Grounds To Revoke or Suspend Your License To Practice Nursing

Under Pennsylvania’s Professional Nursing Law, the Board may suspend or revoke your license when you:

• Can’t practice with reasonable skill and safety due to dependence on alcohol, hallucinogenic or narcotic drugs, or other drugs which may impair your judgment or coordination, as long your dependence continues
• Willfully or repeatedly violate any of the parts of the law or the Board’s regulations
• Have been convicted, plead guilty, plead no contest, or have been found guilty of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude (including DUI), or have been put on probation without a verdict, had a disposition instead of a trial, or an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, in the courts of Pennsylvania, or in any other state or country
• Possessed, used, acquired, or distributed a controlled substance or drug for other than an acceptable medical purpose

If you’re arrested for DUI, it may trigger an inquiry about whether you’re dependent on alcohol or drugs and if it’s impacting patient care. If the DUI is based on impairment due to a controlled substance, the Board could revoke or suspend your license because you possessed, acquired, and used it. This DUI conviction could happen anywhere and impact your license. If your DUI actions are considered willful, or this isn’t your first DUI conviction, this is another ground for suspension or revocation.

You Can Tell Your Side of the Story To the Board

Before the Nursing Board can suspend or revoke your license to practice:

• You must have a hearing
• Relevant evidence with “reasonably probative value” may be introduced
• There can be reasonable examination and cross-examination of witnesses
• All parties can submit briefs before the decision is made
• Oral argument on “substantial issues” may be heard
• There must be “good cause” shown

Contact a Professional License Defense Lawyer

If you’re a nurse facing drunk driving charges in or around West Chester, Pennsylvania, there is a lot on the line. You may go to jail, lose your driver’s license, and possibly lose your professional license too. Because so much is at stake, you need an experienced attorney who will protect your rights and ability to work.

Michael J. Skinner is experienced and ready to take on your case. He knows how the Nursing Board approached DUI cases. He will listen to you, investigate the facts, identify your defenses, and find the best possible outcome for you. By getting the charges dismissed, you may be able to avoid any discipline from the Board. In other cases, you may be able to reduce the harm done, so you can quickly move on.

Schedule a free and confidential consultation today by calling (610) 436-1410 or sending a message online.