How a DUI Impacts Nurses in PA

Nurses are incredible people who have made it their life’s mission to protect and care for others. This is why many of our nursing clients find it difficult to reconcile how they made a poor decision that endangered themselves and the public.

Our firm recognizes more than anything that good people make mistakes. ZLF has represented dozens of nurses facing DUI and other criminal charges in Pennsylvania.

Do I need to report my DUI when I’m charged, or when the case ends?

Both, with certain caveats. Title 49, Chapter 21 Section 21.29a, entitled Reporting of Crimes and Disciplinary Action, sets forth the requirements and timelines for nurses to report pending DUI and criminal charges, as follows:

A registered nurse must notify the Board of pending criminal charges within 30 days of the filing of the criminal charges or on the biennial renewal application, whichever comes first;
A registered nurse must notify the Board of a criminal conviction, plea of guilty or no contest, or admission into a probation without verdict or accelerated rehabilitation disposition within 30 days of the disposition or on the biennial renewal application, whichever comes first;
A registered nurse must notify the Board of disciplinary action in the nature of a final order taken against the registered nurse by the licensing authority of another state, territory or country within 90 days of receiving notice of the disciplinary action, or on the biennial renewal application, whichever comes first.

As a result, if you are an RN charged with a DUI or other criminal offense, you must provide notice to the nursing board within 30 days from the date your criminal charges were filed. You will also be required to provide notice within 30 days from the final disposition of your case if it involves a guilty finding or admission into a diversionary program in Pennsylvania.

DUI Consequences for Nurses

A DUI arrest and conviction can lead to serious consequences for nurses, which may include:

Mandatory minimum jail sentences ranging from 2-3 days for first offenses, 5-90 days for second offenses, and 90-days to 1 year for third or subsequent offenses;
Mandatory minimum fines ranging from $300 to $2,500, along with court costs;
Loss of driving privileges from 12 to 18 months, plus any additional suspensions faced for habitual offender classification or add-on traffic charges;
Drug and alcohol assessments and mandatory screenings;
Being deemed by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing as unable to practice professional nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of addiction.

The Zuckerman Law Firm LLC helps nurses defend against 1st, 2nd and 3rd DUI charges.

Whether it’s your first DUI, or you are a repeat offender, our firm has successfully helped nurses accused of DUI in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. For a free consultation, call 412-447-5580 today.