Individuals accused of breaking the law frequently react somewhat passively. Instead of trying to fight to protect their reputation, they simply plead guilty. Professionals who have invested heavily in their careers may not want to take time away from work to go to trial. They may hope that by pleading guilty, they can minimize the impact of their pending charges on their future career development.

Individuals accused of basic driving under the influence (DUI) offenses might think that pleading guilty could lead to a lenient sentence and allow them to continue their lives as normal. For those working in the medical field, such as nurses, a guilty plea to a DUI could trigger a process that could result in the loss of their state license.

Licensing boards monitor for criminal convictions

Professionals in licensed careers like medicine might hope that by resolving a criminal charge quickly, they can prevent their co-workers and employers from learning about their legal issues. However, state licensing authorities in the medical field tend to proactively monitor for criminal convictions involving licensed professionals.

Certain types of convictions can lead to the scrutiny of licensed professionals and possibly disciplinary actions up to professional license revocation. Licensed nurses with substance abuse issues could potentially make mistakes that harm their patients. As such, it is common practice to ask those convicted of an offense related to drugs or alcohol to submit to an evaluation. Those with recent criminal convictions could also receive summonses asking them to attend a disciplinary hearing.

Such proceedings often lead to negative outcomes for the professionals involved. Thankfully, medical professionals have the right to defend themselves in both criminal court and in front of the licensing board that oversees their profession.

Nurses should hire lawyers to help them fight their DUI charges. Avoiding a conviction eliminates the risk of career penalties associated with those charges. Those who have already entered a guilty plea can potentially secure representation to help them as they navigate the evaluation or disciplinary process.

With the right assistance, professionals can work to preserve their licensing and limit the secondary consequences of a recent DUI arrest. Understanding that even victimless offenses can inspire career consequences and that licensing boards actively monitor for convictions may be beneficial for nurses.