When It Comes To A Matter Of National Health, No Nurse Should Ever Fear Retribution

[Michael M. Heuninckx]

Yesterday, I was listening to an interview Matt Lauer of the Today Show conducted with Briana Aguirre, a Registered Nurse from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Briana in the interview states, "I can no longer defend my hospital at all" and was one of the nurses who treated Nurse Nina Pham, her friend and colleague, after she tested positive for the Ebola virus. While listening to Briana's story, I felt her pain and frustration, and during the interview I had a sinking feeling in the pit in my stomach as she was describing the events. I was horrified to learn about how the Ebola case was managed and how ill equipped the nurses and medical staff was when they were faced with the daunting task of managing the care of patients diagnosed with or suspected of having the Ebola virus.

What struck me personally, as a fellow nurse, was the fact that Briana was scared to tell her story. Briana was brought to tears, for fear that she might face retribution from the hospital and lose her job. I can only imagine the amount of strength and courage it must have taken Briana to come forward with her story.

As nurses we can all think of the potential ramifications and mistakes that could possibly be repeated if her story was not heard and she remained quiet. By speaking out, Briana Aguirre is not only potentially saving the lives and further spread of the Ebola virus to her coworkers and to the patients of the hospital, but also impacting the lives of all medical professionals and their patients around the world.

As nurses we must rally behind, support and make certain that the courageous actions of Nurse Briana Aguirre is not taken in vain. As health care professionals, we must ensure that: we listen to the lessons learned, create awareness about Briana's story and share this information with fellow nurses.

This will aid nurses in this country and around the world to continue the fight against Ebola. All of these actions will lead to improvements that, as nurses, we are able to offer all of our patients. Our voices as nurses must be heard, and those voices should never be intimidated or threatened when we dare to share the truth. The voice of Briana comes from grave concern and warning. I believe that if this knowledge and warning is not taken seriously, it could have a catastrophic impact on the overall health of our nation.

I personally would like to thank Registered Nurse, Briana Aguirre, for coming forward to share her story about her personal experiences. Fear of retribution should never be the fear of any nurse when it comes to the health of our nation. As nurses we must have a voice and we must be listened to.

I encourage all nurses to do their homework, become passionate about this issue and ensure that all measures are being followed appropriately. As we all know, the educational process for nurses is never over and it is now up to us to ensure proper safety for ourselves and for the patients we take care of. Actively seek out your hospitals policies regarding Ebola, compare those policies to the standards set by the CDC. Also, research what other originzations, such as Doctors Without Borders, Nebraska Medical Center and Emory University Hospital, and find out how they handle Ebola. If you find gaps in policy in your local hospital, help fill them; make your voice heard, share you concerns with hospital administrators and ensure that those are followed through and new policies implemented. Do not let the gaps in the healthcare system lead to you becoming exposed, potentially exposing your family members and others patients to this deadly disease. Start the courageous conversation today, continue to educate yourself and ensure that your voice is listened to and immediate action is taken.

Michael M. Heuninckx RN-BSN

***For anyone who is interested in listening to Briana Aguirre's full interview with Matt Lauer, copy and paste the link below into your browser:

Full interview: Matt Lauer and Dallas nurse Briana Aguirre - Video on TODAY.com

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Great article Michael and welcome! I agree with you that Briana's fear of losing her job is very concerning and very sad too.

[fawnmarie, ASN]

Excellent article, thank you!

[1KoolRN]

#SupportTheScrubs !!

National Nurses United: Nurse’s Toolkit | National Nurses United

[817nurse]

I understand why Briana is scared to speak up. I am a nurse in the Dallas area. Nurses who make waves do not last long around here. It is sad but true.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

I understand why Briana is scared to speak up. I am a nurse in the Dallas area. Nurses who make waves do not last long around here. It is sad but true.

Nurses can come here on this site and express their concerns, let their voices be heard and remain anonymous. We had a survey last weekend. More than 3000 nurses participated. Their voices were heard as the survey has received lots of press coverage. We plan on having a follow up survey this week.

Thanks for the great article, Michael!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

She may have wavered, but she is stronger than ever; advocacy is the most empowering and important part of what we do.

I applaud her for doing what is right for our pts and our profession.

Great article!

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

I really enjoyed your Article, Michael. Welcome.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I understand why Briana is scared to speak up. I am a nurse in the Dallas area. Nurses who make waves do not last long around here. It is sad but true.

Nurses who make waves aren't welcome at most facilities....

Well said Michael!

[dnnc52]

They tell us to "use Critical Thinking Skills" "think "outside the Box". But what most really prefer is to be Yes" employees. As nurses we all have probably experience finding problems and making suggestions, just to be shot down. Especially when it requires $$$. Better yet. How about all the rapid response to the rumors of the "Joint Commission Hospital Accreditation" coming. The its a rush to make things appear out of the clear blue sky? in a sense referring to P&Ps. Or how we are prompt as to how to answer questions?. I have seen them change the schedule to prevent any fear of whistle blowing nurses to be around when they suspect Joint to be on the unit!. I will be interested to see how the Joint Commission tackles the P&P and evaluations.? Be it safety of staff or telling the administration their zipper is open. Truth is the majority of the times. Hospitals don't like nurses who give their true opinions, ask questions, and or make suggestions,. Lets get it out in the open, seems these nurse are the ones who get Bullied by the higher ups. As a nurse who was certified in every discipline I worked. I found it to almost be a hindrance due to the fear of intimidating some of my insecure bosses...

[suzil]

You are spot on! I feel like it is such a shame to put on the "Joint is coming, let's pretend!" I always felt this is wrong and internally despise managers that were willing to put up with this charade. You are correct with the staff scheduling on the Joint days. I also believe we need to get it out in the open. Too many nurses today are "yes" men. I understand the need for a job but they don't get if we all stick together..........................the hospitals cannot function without us!

[elkpark]

I understand why Briana is scared to speak up. I am a nurse in the Dallas area. Nurses who make waves do not last long around here. It is sad but true.

It's not just Dallas -- it's anywhere, and it's just common sense. Think about it -- if you were an employer, how happy would you be about an employee making your business look bad in public, however legitimate the concerns may be?