For many professions, being convicted of driving while intoxicated can have very serious repercussions. The seriousness ranges from ending a current job to ending your career. This does not take into account your affected driving and criminal record, or any fees you may have to pay or jail time that you may be sentenced to. When all of that is over, your job may also be on the line. For those in the medical field, including nurses, a DWI conviction can quickly become serious for your career and reputation.
Nursing Students and the Impact of a DWI in Kansas City, MO
Charged with a DWI and worried about your nursing license? Contact the attorneys at Cornerstone Law Firm for help.
If you are a nursing student and applying for your nursing license, you must report all convictions, guilty pleas, and no contest pleas to the Missouri State Board of Nursing when submitting your application. This includes felonies, misdemeanors, and any driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence convictions. The Missouri State Board of Nursing reviews each application on a case by case basis. They consider the nature, severity, and timing of offenses, as well as rehabilitation and any other relevant factors. Having a conviction on your record does not automatically bar or disqualify you from receiving your license; however, it does not mean it will not have an effect on your application. It is the burden of the applicant to prove rehabilitation to the Board. Additionally, while your application is in review, you cannot obtain a temporary license.
Registered Nurses and DWIs in KCMO
If you are already a registered nurse and you are convicted of a DWI, you must report the conviction the next time your nurse’s license is up for renewal. The Board, under Missouri law, is allowed to determine discipline for a licensed nurse for an offense involving the qualifications, functions, or duties of a nurse, or for an offense involving moral turpitude. In such cases, a nurse’s license can be revoked. In 2015, the Missouri courts declared that driving while intoxicated was not a crime of moral turpitude. However, they left open the possibility that a DWI conviction could still be grounds for the Board to revoke a nurse’s license. While a first time misdemeanor DWI offense may not cause your license to be revoked, as was the case decided in 2015, it is a route the Board could take. In addition, if you are a repeat offender or were convicted of a DWI felony, it is much more likely that it will be seen as a crime of moral turpitude and your license can be revoked. Whether your license gets revoked or not, having the conviction may also deter employers from hiring you, and it takes ten years before you can qualify to get the conviction erased from your record.
If you are facing a DWI charge, contact the experienced Kansas City DWI attorneys of Cornerstone Law Firm at 816-581-4040 for a free consultation.
