Will a DWI affect my nursing license?

What Is a DWI in North Carolina?

It is essential to understand when you can be charged with DWI in our state. You could be arrested for committing DWI in these situations:

You are driving while under the influence of an impairing substance.

You are driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher,

You are driving with any amount of a controlled substance, such as marijuana or cocaine, in your system.

If you are convicted, the court will consider a number of mitigating and aggravating factors in deciding your punishment. You could be sentenced to 24 hours to 24 months in jail and fined up to $4,000. In addition, your driver’s license could be suspended for one year for a first-offense DWI.

Can a Nursing License Be Suspended or Revoked for a DWI?

You also face long-term consequences long after you complete your sentence if you are convicted of DWI. One ramification is that your nursing license may be jeopardized.

The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBN) regulates nurses. It has the power to suspend or revoke a nurse’s professional license if there is a violation of the Nursing Practice Act or rules. They can take these actions for infractions committed while you are on or off the job.

There are many reasons that your nursing license could be suspended or revoked for a DWI. They include the following:

You pled guilty to or were convicted of a crime that shows you are unfit or incompetent as a nurse.

You pled guilty to or were convicted of an offense that shows you defrauded the public.

You took actions that could endanger public health.

You failed to report or expunge a prior felony or misdemeanor DWI or committed a felony DWI while you were a nurse or failed to report it.

What Happens if There Is a Complaint Against a Nursing License Due to a DWI?

If you report that you were convicted of DWI or a complaint is filed against you, the NCBN legal staff and investigators would determine if there are allegations of a violation of the laws and rules governing nurses in North Carolina that justify opening an investigation. If they determine that an investigation should be conducted, they would assign the complaint to an investigator.

You would be notified of the investigation by the NCBN in writing and may be contacted by telephone as well. It is essential to respond to their notification because failure to do so will not stop the investigation and could lead to additional disciplinary actions.

When communicating with the NCBN, you need to remain respectful and professional. They most likely will offer to interview you. You do not want to be untruthful or argumentative if you are interviewed.

You have a right to be represented by an attorney. Given the risk you face of losing your license, it is important to retain a lawyer to defend you in the DWI court proceedings and any investigation by the NCBN.

After the investigation is completed, the Board of Nursing would decide how to proceed. Actions they could take include the following:

Take no action against you
Send you a letter of concern without any disciplinary actions
Offer you a non-disciplinary consent order that would place some restrictions on your nursing practice
Offer you a published consent order, which includes a reprimand, monitoring, probation, or license suspension or revocation

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Our Approach To DWI Cases

WE WILL GET YOU DRIVING AGAIN

Simply being charged with DWI in North Carolina often results in your driver’s license being revoked for a minimum of 30 days. However, we can typically get your driving privileges reinstated almost immediately. We do this by either, first, challenging this civil license revocation, or second, getting you a limited driving privilege.

Defend My Case

WE WILL GATHER EVIDENCE

Whether you realize it or not, a considerable amount of evidence exists regarding your DWI charge, much of which is vital to an effective defense of your case. We will review your court file, subpoena necessary documents, videos, and notes, and file the appropriate pretrial motions in a timely manner.

Defend My Case

WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU IN COURT

As former prosecutors, we are aware of all the potential defenses that may be available to you. We do not automatically assume you intend to plead guilty and face the harsh consequences associated with a DWI conviction. We pledge we will examine every possible defense and take your case to trial if it is in your best interest.

Defend My Case

WE WILL MITIGATE CONSEQUENCES

While it’s our goal to win every DWI case we have, it’s simply not possible for any attorney to win every time. If you are ultimately convicted of DWI, we will help you take every step possible to reduce the potential penalties, such as avoiding jail time, keeping you driving, reducing monetary costs, and more.

Defend My Case

Will a DWI affect my nursing license?

What Is a DWI in North Carolina?

Can a Nursing License Be Suspended or Revoked for a DWI?

Let Our Experience & Knowledge Help You Obtain The Best Possible Outcome For Your Unique Legal Situation.

What Happens if There Is a Complaint Against a Nursing License Due to a DWI?

Have You Been Arrested for a DWI in Charlotte, NC?

Our Approach To DWI Cases