CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Los Angeles DUI and Vocational Nurses

The Serious Consequences of a DUI Offense for Los Angeles Vocational Nurses

Introduction

Working in the healthcare field is a noble profession that requires utmost professionalism and morality. An individual who works in the healthcare industry and has committed a DUI offense is likely to face serious consequences. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol as a vocational nurse or psychiatric technician in the Los Angeles area will lead to disciplinary action by the state’s licensing board. In this article, we look at the penalties that licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and psychiatric technicians face if they are convicted of a DUI offense in the Los Angeles area.

Reporting DUI conviction

The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric technicians in the state of California is the governing agency for licensing LVNS. The Board is also responsible for disciplining nurses who commit law violations. Any licensed individual convicted of a traffic offense implicating drugs or alcohol use must report their conviction. If an individual is arrested for DUI, instant reporting is not mandatory. However, they must report the conviction to the Board. Upon arrest and fingerprints through the LiveScan database, the Board is automatically notified leading to the Board’s investigation in a few weeks’ time. Applying for a nursing license or renewing an existing license requires reporting of any prior criminal convictions. The Board takes DUI offenses very seriously.

The Sanctions the Board can deliver

Once a licensed vocational nurse is convicted of a DUI offense, the Board can suspend or revoke their license for a specific period. Alternatively, the Board can also give probation to the individual. Generally, an investigation will be conducted to scrutinize the facts of the case. The Board can take disciplinary measures even with a first-time DUI offense if the individual’s blood alcohol concentration is 0.15%.
Further, the Board has the authority to reprimand any vocational nurse with a DUI conviction or publish a notification of disciplinary action taken against them. The published information is accessible to future potential employers, thus jeopardizing the individual’s employment possibilities. In case of substance dependency issues, the Board can also require an individual to take a leave of absence or eventually revoke their license if they are deemed unfit to practice nursing.

Legal implications of DUI offense

Apart from Board disciplinary measures, licensed nurses also have to cope with the legal impacts of their DUI offense. After a conviction, the judge can order various penalties, including attending DUI classes for nine months maximum, paying restitution to the victim, attending AA meetings weekly, among others. On a first-time offense, the DMV suspends the person’s driver’s license for four months. However, a driver who refuses a chemical test risks suspension of the license for one year.

Seek Professional Legal Assistance

In conclusion, a vocational nurse or psychiatric technician who has been arrested for DUI may face severe consequences. Contacting an experienced Los Angeles DUI attorney from Todd Spodek Law Group is crucial to getting the representation. The Kraut Law group is home to knowledgeable Los Angeles DUI attorneys, who can provide legal assistance to vocational nurses and psychiatric technicians convicted of DUI offenses. The attorneys’ primary goal is to deliver the possible results, safeguarding our client’s rights, and helping them cope with the aftermath of the incident.