The BRN recognizes the risks of stress from the profession and that relief may be sought from drugs and alcohol. To address these issues the BRN created a drug and alcohol intervention program designed to help RNs who may be showing symptoms of burn out. (See Intervention program link.)
However, if a nurse does not qualify for the intervention program or chooses not to participate because of the requirement that they must abstain from work for a substantial time, the Board will investigate and evaluate whether discipline is warranted by its disciplinary guidelines and the level of discipline (insert link) under the Nurse Practice Act (NPA). A Board considers a DUI unprofessional conduct even if it occurred on the Nurses’ own time.
Under relevant statutes, the Board has the authority to sanction, discipline, suspend and/or revoke a license for unprofessional conduct, which includes a conviction of a felony or "any offense substantially related to the duties of a registered nurse." The Board has determined that a DUI is an unprofessional conduct because such conduct involves the use "dangerous drugs or alcohol in a manner which is dangerous to the licensee or the public or to the extent that such use impairs the ability of the licensee to conduct himself or herself professionally with safety."
The Board will evaluate whether the facts surrounding the DUI, the nurse’s history, and other relevant evidence to determine the level of discipline or sanction to impose.