Utah Nurse Alex Wubbels Arrested by Police Talks with allnurses.com at ENA 2017 Conference

allnurses talked to Alex Wubbels, the nurse who was arrested for courageously standing up for the rights of her unconscious patient. Nurses Announcements Archive Event Video Interview

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Utah Nurse Alex Wubbels Arrested by Police Talks with allnurses.com at ENA 2017 Conference

While at the 2017 ENA Convention in St. Louis, allnurses got the opportunity to interview Alex Wubbels, the Utah nurse who in July 2017, was violently secured in handcuffs and placed in a squad car for not complying with a police officer's request to draw blood on an unconscious patient without a warrant or consent. The video of the incident went viral.

Alex has received support not only from her place of employment but also from an outraged nursing community. "The University of Utah Health supports Nurse Wubbels and her decision to focus first and foremost on the care and well-being of her patient," said Suzanne Winchester, the hospital's media relations manager. "She followed procedures and protocols in this matter and was acting in her patient's best interest. We have worked with our law enforcement partners on this issue to ensure an appropriate process for moving forward."

We talked with Alex at the 2017 ENA Conference about how she is coping with this traumatic event.

Alex Wubbels also shared with us that there has been an update in the investigation. The Salt Lake City Mayor announced that "The findings of the IA investigation and the Civilian Review Board will be sent to Chief Mike Brown who will use them to help guide his decision as it relates to the employment status of the two officers involved."

The officers were found to have violated department policy. The following video gives additional details.

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tnbutterfly - Mary

About tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN

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Specializes in ICU; Telephone Triage Nurse.

It's nice to finally see her smiling after the hell she has been through.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

By releasing the video she gives an example of patient advocacy. We all must be ready advocate in the best interest of our patients.

Nurse Wubbels continues to do so.

She gives an example of why nurses are considered the most ethical and respected occupation.

From my state's standards for registered nurses:

[A registered nurse shall be considered to be competent when he/she consistently]

... Acts as the client's advocate, as circumstances require by initiating action to improve health care or tochange decisions or activities which are against the interests or wishes of the client, and by giving the client the opportunity to make informed decisions about health care before it is provided...

http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-i-20.pdf

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She deserves all of our support.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

I was honored to shake her hand. She has a very humble manner.

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Awesome that you guys interviewed her. I was wondering how she was doing after seeing that video. How traumatizing..

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Specializes in ER.

Is that you, Butterfly?

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Specializes in CIC, Geriatrics.

Since the episode, I have heard that this nurse "was making a big thing out of nothing" and that she was acting for the camera. Apparently those persons feel it is OK for cops to push nurses around, even though we see on television every night that they are being unfair to criminals. Nurses apparently don't fall into that category, so any "big bad cop" can just beat up on a female to make her do his bidding. I don't care what anyone says, if we had more nurses like this lady, we wouldn't have 8 dead nursing home patients in Florida!!!! I can't imagine going into work at that NH, which by the way I work in one, and not start shipping those residents across the street! Healthcare for profit at it's finest!!!!

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Specializes in Patient Safety Advocate; HAI Prevention.

I am a retired nurse, who graduated in 1970. I was enraged by what happened to this nurse.

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Good work sticking with your facility's policy and procedure Nurse Wubbels!

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Specializes in ICU/ER/Med-Surg/Case Management/Manageme.
Since the episode, I have heard that this nurse "was making a big thing out of nothing" and that she was acting for the camera. Apparently those persons feel it is OK for cops to push nurses around, even though we see on television every night that they are being unfair to criminals. Nurses apparently don't fall into that category, so any "big bad cop" can just beat up on a female. to make her do his bidding.

I don't know where you work or what you do but I haven't heard anything even remotely like what you've said. Zero, zip.

Frankly, i can only hope I would have the courage to stand up for my patients rights as she did. One strong woman representing our profession!

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I've seen quite a few trollsl attacking her for "not complying with DOT regulations concerning mandatory testing of CDL holders", but they were not nurses or were even related to any health care field. they were put into their place.

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