ABC TV:NY Med shows ER nurse fired due to social media post

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

I enjoyed NY Med ABC TV limited series about life in NY Presbyterian-Weil Cornell Med Center last year so tuned into premier tonight. Shows patient dramas involved young man with dissecting aneurysim who's father died at age 21 same illness, young man with multiple GSW--8 exit wounds, male neurosurgical patient with cervical spinal cord tumor and young lwomen brought in by ambulance due to "Sunburn on legs, unable to stand up" due to second degree burns with nerf football size blisters needing debridement in burn unit. Medical personnel stories involved 28yo female urology resident and 6 yr veteran ER RN--who gets FIRED over social media post + escorted out the door.

TV Guide:

The Biz: Inside the New Season of NY Med

TV Guide Magazine: In the first episode, a New York Presbyterian nurse is fired because she posted a picture of the ER on Twitter. That seemed surprising because personnel issues can get tricky. Did you need to do a lot of legal vetting to get that on the air?

Wrong: Remember ABC News is doing this series, so we operate under its standards and practices. We do not allow the hospital to see our edited footage before it airs and we don't seek their approval. As a fair play issue, was her firing fair or merited? She posted photos from inside her work place, an environment where patients assume there is medical confidentiality. There are strict codes and regulations. She admitted she was wrong to do it and they fired her for it. That sent a message to staff. If [the hospital] had a vote, would they have wanted that story in the series? I don't know. It's possible they wouldn't have.

Thankfully, another ER hires this well liked RN:

St Louis Today:

St. Louis nurse Katie Duke is back (and not) on 'NY Med .

it's a good guess that the "NY Med" team was as shocked as Duke when she was called upstairs and informed that, after 6½ years, she had just worked her last shift at New York Presbyterian. Viewers would be shocked, too, if teases for the new season didn't give that development away.

For details about what went wrong for Duke, you'll need to watch the Season 2 premiere of the eight-part series at 9 p.m. Thursday on ABC.

Suffice to say, learning she was being let go "was traumatic. That place was my family," she says.

Don't worry about Duke, though. Not only has she landed another job, she has many more irons in the fire, including a website (officialkatieduke.com), a new YouTube show, an endorsement deal for Dickies and Cherokee scrubs, speaking engagements and a line of "Deal With It" merchandise. She'll even return in later episodes of "NY Med."

Video:

http://abcnews.go.com/video/embed?id=23698420

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

I'm laughing because, well, what's a micro valve? (Quote from Terence Wrong regarding Dr. Oz in that article.)

Not weighing in on the Katie Duke firing, but I was really concerned about that aortic dissection. I was very glad to see the patient healthy at ten months out. And holy hockey sticks, that sunburn! The urology resident was a hoot. A good premiere for this season.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I know I saw that too...probably a mitral valve...I hate reporters.

I loved it!

The dissecting aneurysm was sealed... but WOW that patient would make me very nervous. I don't get nervous often.

I felt SO BAD for that nurse...me personally..I don't' think that picture was any violation. AN empty used trauma room. No patient names. No staff names. I felt it was hypocritical of the facility. You allow taping of a TV show in you facility for a national viewing audience. You allow that nurse to be filmed and show that picture on national TV...but you don't want an empty dirty trauma room in instagram? So you fire her for the picture? Really????

But it does bring home a good point.

STAY OFF SOCIAL MEDIA PEOPLE!!!

HIPAA or not...DON"T POST PICTURES!!!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

That made her an example. Talk about hypocrisy. As Esme pointed out.. They allow all of the staff to be filmed (I doubt they were asked if they wanted to be on TV) and then fire someone for something so ridiculous. I would understand if it had a patient, mentioned a patient, etc. What a joke. I'm glad she has a new job and some bonus income from endorsements. Guess she got over being fired

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Being fired seemed a bit much on a Saturday night no less. BUT we do not know the whole story. She was a high profile person and I am guessing she was told to clear everything through PR. I did feel bad, but if the patient's family saw the photo it would have made me feel bad.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

That made her an example. Talk about hypocrisy. As Esme pointed out.. They allow all of the staff to be filmed (I doubt they were asked if they wanted to be on TV) and then fire someone for something so ridiculous.

Actually, as the company has to get releases from anyone that they film, to use the footage, the staff would have to agree.

I have worked in the past at the facility, and would be surprised if staff had not been briefed and permitted to opt out, if they were uncomfortable with being filmed.

I currently work at an extremely well known facility, where there are frequently film crews as well as still photography. We also have a significant population of staff, patients and families, that come from diverse cultures, backgrounds or religions that are uncomfortable with filming/photography for various reasons. We are always given the permit to opt out. There are also signs in any area that might have any proposed filming in it, to make staff and patients aware that they can opt out.

In addition, we often have patients that are media figures that wish to document their care for public viewing. It is made extremely clear, that staff must give permission to be filmed, and the nurses that refuse may not suffer any bias in assignment. There are also strict limits on the activity shown with staff in the frame and legal services is involved.

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

I know I saw that too...probably a mitral valve...I hate reporters.

I loved it!

The dissecting aneurysm was sealed... but WOW that patient would make me very nervous. I don't get nervous often.

I felt SO BAD for that nurse...me personally..I don't' think that picture was any violation. AN empty used trauma room. No patient names. No staff names. I felt it was hypocritical of the facility. You allow taping of a TV show in you facility for a national viewing audience. You allow that nurse to be filmed and show that picture on national TV...but you don't want an empty dirty trauma room in instagram? So you fire her for the picture? Really????

But it does bring home a good point.

STAY OFF SOCIAL MEDIA PEOPLE!!!

HIPAA or not...DON"T POST PICTURES!!!

Yes, I was assuming mitral valve too. It just reminded me of my mother in law's med term. :)

As for Katie, I wanted a little time to think to see if my gut and my brain matched on my feelings about it. I think the Instagram in question was in and of itself a ridiculous thing to be fired over considering the hospital putting itself so far out there on prime time tv. The first hash tag though, something about man vs train, I feel that's somewhat identifying. Could be that this has been a problem and they're taking a hard line, but it still smells a little funky to me.

The takeaway is: social media and work don't mix well.

[Speschalk]

I am so disappointed. I want to love Katie. Her feistiness is just what the nursing profession could use. What turns my stomach is utilizing that passion professionally. Her interview with Scrubs magazine in Feb 2014 was disheartening when she complained that admin didn't understand nursing needs. I wholeheartedly agree with that. But she lost me when she cited getting in trouble for drinks at the nurses' station, wrong color scrubs, and being late for shifts. These are OSHA and hospital policies that are part of a professional role. Don't get me started on the nail polish......as far as the instagram, she identified the hospital, the tv show, and the patient with 'man v. The 6 train'. Any google search would give you his name. Now she has endorsements, a Youtube channel, and a following. I am not sure she represents me and her influence on new nurses scares me.

[seconddegreebsn]

I am so disappointed. I want to love Katie. Her feistiness is just what the nursing profession could use. What turns my stomach is utilizing that passion professionally. Her interview with Scrubs magazine in Feb 2014 was disheartening when she complained that admin didn't understand nursing needs. I wholeheartedly agree with that. But she lost me when she cited getting in trouble for drinks at the nurses' station, wrong color scrubs, and being late for shifts. These are OSHA and hospital policies that are part of a professional role. Don't get me started on the nail polish......as far as the instagram, she identified the hospital, the tv show, and the patient with 'man v. The 6 train'. Any google search would give you his name. Now she has endorsements, a Youtube channel, and a following. I am not sure she represents me and her influence on new nurses scares me.

Yeah...I kinda get the feeling she's more in the business of self promotion/personal branding and getting her name out there than much else these days. There's no "one nurse fits all" role model, but I'm with you. Instagram at work is a recipe for trouble. If you want to advocate for nurses and educate the public about what we do, there are other ways to do it that won't cost you your job.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I give her kudos for turning a bad situation positive. Good for her!

They fired her over the picture then allowed it on national television. I don't know...they all benefit from the national attention.

I hope nurses see that and use the internet with greater caution.

[friggasdistaff]

I just don't understand why anyone who works in a hospital should be taking a photo on their phone while at work. There is absolutely no reason to do this. Katie even stated that she had been warned about her posts on social media and that she had done it anyway, because she is 'hard headed'. The information in the tags was certainly enough to violate HIPAA. I understand her desire for people to better understand the role of medical professionals, but this was the wrong way to go about it.

[girlvet]

She should sue the hospital. She did not mention any names. Lawsuits have been filed over this and the suer has won.