Your Pennsylvania nursing career was likely years in the making, so you may feel stressed or anxious if anything threatens your ability to earn a living in this manner. There are a number of different things that could potentially jeopardize your ability to retain your nursing license, and receiving a conviction for driving under the influence is among them.
According to RegisteredNursing.org, whether you lose your nursing license following a drunk driving conviction is up to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The board mandates that you inform it of your conviction when your license is up for renewal, and the board then determines whether it is going to penalize you.
Notifying the board
As tempting as it may be to try to sweep a drunk driving conviction under the rug, doing so has the potential to lead to considerably more trouble than your conviction might otherwise. If you fail to inform the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing about your conviction and they find out anyway, it may lead to harsher repercussions and little sympathy.
Understanding potential implications
Getting a DUI does not automatically mean you are going to have to surrender your nursing license. If you have similar offenses in your past, or if your conviction stemmed from an incident that resulted in an injury or death, you may face an elevated chance of losing your nursing license.
You may also face alternative repercussions depending on the specifics of your case. You may, for example, find yourself on probation for a set period. You may also face sanctions that come directly from your employer, rather than from the state nursing board.