Worried sick student nurse

Convicted Driver Insurance

Anon23

New Member
I'm a 2nd year student nurse...

1 week ago on the 26th August, I was out with friends. I had an arguement with one and stupidly decided to get a taxi to hers where my car was( I wish more than anything I got the taxi home).
I'd had 4 pints of fosters (beer), 1 tequila shot and half a bottle of kopparberg.
I got in my car and attempted to drive making the mistake of thinking it was only 10 minutes from her house to mine and I'd be ok. I didn't feel drunk at all... I tried to change from 3rd to 2nd gear and put my foot on the brake at the same time. I broke a bit sharper than I should have which caused the car to spin and crash into a metal railing. I got away with bruises, cuts and minor concussion and thank the lord no one else was involved.

Police and ambulance were called by a shop assistant who'd seen the accident. I was breathalised and arrested at the scene. Bloods were done. I was taken to A police station, held in a cell for hours and interviewed. I was traumatised and still am. It's all a blur.

I'm really struggling to deal with it and I'm so angry with myself and full of regret. I can't sleep or eat properly.
I have to wait for blood results which could take up to 6 weeks and a letter to see if I have to go to court which could take up to 8 weeks.

Can anyone offer me any advice?

I'm terrified it will affect my degree and my job.

Many thanks
 
Hello
Don’t panic. Easy to say, but lots of have been through this.
What was your roadside breath reading? Must haven above the limit if you got arrested.
Was it a while since you had the last drink or did you drive immediately after? Your readings could be falling if you hadn’t drank for a while.
But with 10+ units consumed, it’s unlikely to come back clear. You just want it to be as low as possible.
Over the limit is a compulsory 12 month minimum ban, which can be reduced by 25% with a driving course. Crashing is an aggravating factor which will probably increase the ban length.
If you have to drive as part of your job (like I do) then, yes, it is going to effect it, as if you bloods come back over, you won’t be driving for a while.
 
DonkeyKong said:
Hello
Don’t panic. Easy to say, but lots of have been through this.
What was your roadside breath reading? Must haven above the limit if you got arrested.
Was it a while since you had the last drink or did you drive immediately after? Your readings could be falling if you hadn’t drank for a while.
But with 10+ units consumed, it’s unlikely to come back clear. You just want it to be as low as possible.
Over the limit is a compulsory 12 month minimum ban, which can be reduced by 25% with a driving course. Crashing is an aggravating factor which will probably increase the ban length.
If you have to drive as part of your job (like I do) then, yes, it is going to effect it, as if you bloods come back over, you won’t be driving for a while.
Click to expand...

Struggling to deal with things is always an after thought# your sober now and here is reality and it sucks#

But not all doom n gloom u have fked up same as everyone here and lesson hopefully learned# your young I was 47 when reprimanded the shame is the same # if I can come out smelling of roses so can you # it sucks you did wrong but correct it#
 
DonkeyKong said:
Hello

Hi there/

Thankyou so much for the advice.

It was a ridiculous error in judgement that should have never been made and I have so much regret for it. I've accepted my fault and that I deserve to be punished. I wasn't told what the breath test reading was as I wasn't in a fit state and was beside myself with shock and distress at the time. I was only breathalised once on the roadside and had bloods taken in hospital. I'd had my last drink around 2.30am and was breathalised at 4.20am. I has bloods taken about quarter to 6 in the morning roughly. Do you mean my bloods are unlikely to come back clear? I;m trying to keep positive and carry on as normal. I've leant my lesson from this and have been in a terrible state. I'm very scared to get into a car even as a passenger at the minute and I'm constantly punishing myself and working myself into a state about it. I can't turn the clock back but I can't stop wishing I could. I just don't know how to move on from it. I just feel as though my life is on pause until I know my blood results and recieve the letter stating whether I have to attend court. My nan works in law and thinks that I may only be cautioned but I don't see the likelihood of that.

Im a student nurse so even though I rely on my car for commuting, I don't require it as part of my job. I have other ways and means of getting around although its an inconvenience but it's a lesson learnt!
Click to expand...
 
Would be too much guessing if you don’t know what you blew.
Not sure about the concept of being cautioned - someone else might answer with authority, but if you are over 80 blood you will be prosecuted, and get a ban, and if you are below it, you haven’t committed a crime, so there would be nothing to be cautioned for on the drink part. No clue about the accident bit.

Rough guess:
You had 4 pints of fosters at about 2.1 units, so 8.4
1 shot of Tequila, about 1.4
Half a bottle of Koppaberg about 1 unit.
So about 10.8 units drunk.

Around 4 units could put you over the limit.
Your body removes about 1 unit per hour. So based on when you started, you can roughy guess what you might have been at 5:45

The above entirely depends on lots of factors - male/ female, weight, whether you ate or not, liver function, etc etc.
 
You need to urgently speak to your student union or NMC. A recent drink drive conviction, especially if your blood result makes you a high risk offender, which seems likely, would definitely raise questions about your fitness to practice as a nurse.

As a minimum they may well require you to undertake a medical to check you are not dependent on alcohol before issuing your PIN.

Bearing in mind with nursing your conviction will NEVER be spent, as enhanced CRB checks can show even spent convictions it is crucial you get proper advice. I know someone who had a DD in 2004, it is still causing them issues as the police won't remove it from the CRB.

I know my Trust (acute adult & paeds) would not accept a DD conviction for an RN. Just too much risk as ever ward will have ETOH patients from time to time. They would not want you potentially looking after a DOLS ETOH patient.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but nursing is a regulated profession and you must be certain you can get a job at the end of your course. Do not accept "think so", "probably". If needed speak to the HR department at the Trust you will likely apply to, with the proviso they will then note to say you have called them with a DD conviction. They would of course find out anyway via the enhanced CRB.

You may have learnt out the hard way nurses are expected to be whiter than white. Any drink/drugs convictions will cause you problems.
 
I should say as well that's not to be alarmist. Just realise that getting a job as a nurse is a two stage process. You have to declare any convictions, convince the NMC you are fit to practice and get a PIN.

Then you have to declare any convictions, and get a job at a Trust or agency.

You might as well be sure of what to expect at both now.
 
Anon23,
Dont panic about what TipsyNurse posted above just yet. I don’t know the law, and am not qualified, but there seems to be a bunch of wrong advice here. You need a proper advice from someone like Price, who knows what he is talking about.

Do not take my word for it, but ask in the “ask a solicitor” forum. You have given absolutely NO information that suggests that you are “highly likely” to be a HRO. Nobody knows how long a time you took these 10 units over, so therefore don’t know that your blood will be in the HRO bracket. I’m not saying you won’t ... just saying nothing you have said so far means you will.

The “never spent” bit is bull****. Only 48 months imprisonment is never spent, and less than that is. And you are DEFINiTELY NOT going to prison anyway, if you drank what you said.

Even if you need a test to show you are not dependant on alcohol (like the DVLA one I have to do) you’ll pass that anyway because you WILL NOT be drinking at all for months before the test. Unless you are stupid.
 
You're wrong, Google "enhanced DBS check" which is what all nurses (and clinical staff) need to practice you will see that convictions never become spent, the police decide whether to put it on. If you apply in a hospital job it will say that the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of offenders rules and any convictions, spent or unspent, must be disclosed.

As for the rest of it you can see what happens if you already have a job.

https://www.forum.drinkdriving.org/have-you-been-caught-convicted-drink-driving/53805.htm

Having checked the minimum the NMC ask for is a GP report if it is your first offence.

I don't think it will stop the OP being a nurse, but they need to get proper advice seeing as this could adversely affect them for many years.
 
I’m out now. You are right that the OP needs the best advice. But your first post is alarmist.
At the unknown stage, where they are now, people need support, not the worst case. I know I did.
You have no info at all to suggest they will be an HRO. Might. Might not.
Even if they were, the very thread you link to, shows people who did not have a problem following conviction.
Good luck OP. I AM an HRO, but haven’t lost anything yet but a little money and a lot of time.
 
Thank you for the advice all.

The police told me at this stage not to inform my work or uni of the incident as I haven't recieved blood results or a letter confirming a court date as of yet and by informing either one of this, it could lead to 'opening a can of worms' unneccesarily. Following this, I will be contacting a solicitor to see if I can get some legal advice today.

I drank from around 8.30pm to 2.30am but it wasn't like one drink after another. I had these drinks over that amount of time.

I'm trying to stay positive and hope for the best even though I know the potential punishments.

Once I've recieved my blood results and a letter I will inform my work and University
 
That’s very very good advice.
The worst advice you have had so far is to urgently tell anybody, anything.
This is a “needs-to-know” basis. And at this point, NOBODY needs to know!
 
The reason why the OP should speak to their student union is that if the blood results are over the police will likely want to interview her. At that stage if her career will potentially be affected more than a typical drink driver she may think it is worthwhile to instruct a specialist motoring solicitor.

You can all say don't be alarmist but simply going no comment as is standard duty solicitor advice may not be good enough. The court can draw a negative inference from that. If you have a specialist motoring solicitor they can ensure no stone is left unturned.

They could either defend the charge if there is a defect in procedure, or recommend a Newton plea where you plead guilty to the offence but for a lower reading. Neither are easy but again nursing is a special case and worth exploring. Initial advice is free even if that advice is "you don't need me now".

If the rest of you were faced with declaring your DD conviction for every job you apply for for the rest of your career I don't doubt you'd take it more seriously than a simple disqualification. But, as I said, the OP should get expert advice. If they ask their student union it should be in confidence anyway.
 
I've been interviewed by the police already, before i was released without bail.

I have to wait for the blood results which can take up to 6 weeks and a letter to confirm whether I have to attend court (which I'm praying won't happen)

I will be contacting a motor specialist solicitor tomorrow and the Citizens Advice Bereau for advice.

At this time, I am trying not to worry and panic too much although that is easier said than done.

I'm terrified of what will happen and I know I should have thought of the consequences before getting into the car in the first place but it was a silly misjudgement where I thought I would get home ok as it was a 5 minute journey. I'm torturing myself thinking and thinking about what will happen and I'm praying this will be left at a No Further Action response.

(I've never had a conviction and have never been in trouble of any sort!)
fingers crossed!
 
TipsyNurse said:
You're wrong, Google "enhanced DBS check" which is what all nurses (and clinical staff) need to practice you will see that convictions never become spent, the police decide whether to put it on. If you apply in a hospital job it will say that the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of offenders rules and any convictions, spent or unspent, must be disclosed.

As for the rest of it you can see what happens if you already have a job.

https://www.forum.drinkdriving.org/have-you-been-caught-convicted-drink-driving/53805.htm

Having checked the minimum the NMC ask for is a GP report if it is your first offence.

I don't think it will stop the OP being a nurse, but they need to get proper advice seeing as this could adversely affect them for many years.
Click to expand...

Most of the above is correct, except that since May 2013, if you only have one conviction, which is not on the exempt list (GBH, serious sex offences etc) then after 11 years the conviction becomes spent even for DBS purposes and does not have to be declared, nor will it appear on a DBS check. If someone has 2 convictions then neither will ever become spent.
11 years is a long time, but it is much less than for ever!
 
The eleven year rule only means that DD will not automatically be disclosed though. In my experience it often still is. You can appeal it as being irrelevant to your role but honestly, it would be better not to have to worry about it if possible, especially as the DBS Check us carried out by your employer

Also any second conviction for a recordable offence would mean it would always be disclosed again. That is some sword of Damocles to have hanging over you.

To the OP I am really sympathetic which is why I am giving this advice. I work for the NHS and it is the best job in the world. I am sure you will achieve it. But, one of the exciting things is also the number of opportunities to progress once you join. There is enough to worry about applying for new roles without this if you can avoid or minimise it.

Better that you throw the kitchen sink at it now even if it's slight overkill, than look back and wonder if there is more you could have done.

As well as the great advice on here you may wish to post on a forum called pepipoo. There is an active judge on there and it can be good to get feedback from that side of the bench if you end up in court for real.

No matter what I had my scrapes (as you can guess!) and I'm so grateful now I fought the police every step of the way. Good luck.
 
Thankyou so much for the advice guys.

I will look into that forum.

It's so difficult because it's like your life is on pause until you recieve any news. Fingers crossed, everything will be ok.

Many thanks
 
If your timings and the amount that you drank are correct, then I think there is a good chance that you will come back as being under the limit. We are talking about 9 1/4 hours having elapsed and you consuming about 10.5 units. You would need to have above 3 units in your system to fail. Of course even with the best of intentions our memories can tend to forget the odd drink or two.....

My advice would be to sit tight and wait for the results of the blood sample to come back. There is nothing that can be done until you know if you face prosecution or not, so specialist drink driving solicitors (who start at £3000 upwards) cannot do anything at this stage. All they will do is to gather information from you in case there is to be a prosecution, but they can gather the same information IF proceedings are started.
One thing is certain, if you are over the limit, even by a reading of 1, you will not receive a caution despite what your relative suggested. A prosecution would be inevitable.

The hospital procedure is the main one where there are likely to be errors in the police or doctor handling of the case. Just write down everything that happened, in as much detail as you can remember. Times, names, who said what to who, if you were offered a sample of the blood yourself.....

It may take several weeks, even 3-4 months (or more) before you hear what is happening. If you feel really stressed by this then you could seek some help or counselling, but perhaps from outside the nursing profession while prosecution is only a possibility.
 
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Not sure why you would 'Likely' be an HRO... In my opinion, it is touch and go whether you will actually be over!!

Personally, I think you will be, but it will be close. But yes, sit tight until you know for sure and I would not go shouting about it at uni/work etc. until you have to. I made that mistake after an unfounded allegation was made against me and I saught advice at work - proved to be a mistake despite No Further Action.
 
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