As a nurse, you have dedicated your life to helping others. You have also gone through several years of school and may have a significant amount of debt.
Once you reach your goal of being a nurse, you may wonder what will happen if you are convicted of DWI. Will your nursing license be suspended or revoked? How will this charge impact your career?
The penalties for your first DWI
In Texas, first-time DWIs are often charged as class B misdemeanors. While this is true, if there are other circumstances surrounding your arrest, such as an open container or if you received the DWI while a child was in your vehicle, the charges will likely be increased. You may even face felony charges in these cases, which impact both your nursing and driver’s license.
The impact of a DWI on your nursing license and nursing career
As a nurse, you are expected to conduct yourself in a certain way and follow set rules and regulations. The penalties of a DWI to your nursing career are at the mercy of the Texas Board of Nurses.
Not all first offense DWI charges will result in you losing your nursing license. However, if there are extenuating circumstances, additional charges or subsequent DWIs received, this may change.
Protect your nursing license and your rights
Remember, when you receive a Texas DWI, you have the right to fight it. Usually, if you can have the charges reduced or dropped, your nursing career nor your license will be affected. However, each case is unique, so it is best to know the law and take steps to protect your rights in this situation.