Andrea Yates R.N.

Published

Did you know that Andrea Yates, the woman who is now being re-tried for drowning her 5 children in Texas was a nurse? I just thought it was interesting.

Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.
Take care. I am so sorry you have, and have had, so much struggle. I pray something changes, maybe something will break with your son, and he will want more than he has for a life. I can't imagine having to tell him he can't come back, but I would, and there is NOTHING wrong with your having done that. You are actually HELPING him by showing him the natural consequences of his behavior and his lack of compliance. Still, hurts.

God bless you and keep up the good work "Ma", your boys are blessed, even the one that doesn't seem to know it ... Don't let it break your heart. I pray all will be well with them!

How are all the other kids? And you and "Pa"?

Hi Zoeboboey - Thanks for sharing your struggles. My other kids are doing well. Our lives without him here have been quiet. When he was here I had nightmares sometimes, as did my youngest daughter who is now 15. Without him around, knowing he's safe somewhere else, has made me sleep easier at night. And yes, he could be quite charming at times.

My husband and I also joined NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) and it was good to learn of others who had gone through the same struggles.

Thanks again. After what we went through (with the mental illness of our adopted son), I have a new appreciation for people who struggle with mental illness or have a family member who struggle with mental illness......He sent me an e-mail for mother's day so we still keep in touch at times....

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

A news article today regarding Andrea Yates and her antidepressant dose:

http://news.aol.com/strange/story/_a/antidepressant-used-by-yates-questioned/n20060709191709990002?cid=474

Her daily dose was changed to twice the recommended dose before the murders.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.
A news article today regarding Andrea Yates and her antidepressant dose:

http://news.aol.com/strange/story/_a/antidepressant-used-by-yates-questioned/n20060709191709990002?cid=474

Her daily dose was changed to twice the recommended dose before the murders.

At some point the evidence of homicidality with this category of drugs in a small population has to be accounted for. The combination of post partum psychosis and Effexor is lethal.

As far as the Haldol, Andrea was also non-compliant with her medication. So that gets back to issues about personal responsibility, etc.

:typing

I've done a little bit more reading on this case since it's been talked about on here. I have no doubt in my mind that Andrea was insane. It had been stated by friends and family that she was a very loving mother to her children.

I've also read where she believed she had the mark of the beast on her head, that Satan was in her, she hears the "noises of hell", growling voices. I just feel so badly for her.

Closer to the crime, Andrea was not non-compliant with the Haldol as Rusty was giving her meds to her. The problem ending with the crime came as the result of the psychiartist taken her off the Haldol.

The psychiatrist here should take a lot of the blame as there are many discrepancies between what the discharge notes stated and the nursing notes. Rusty was also surprised that she was discharged, I see now that he knew she wasn't well enough to be home.

Specializes in EC, IMU, LTAC.
I think it would be difficult to prosecute Rusty Yates based on the law as it is written. That's not the same as thinking that he shouldn't be prosecuted. As far as I'm concerned, he puts those children in the line of fire and should pay for it.

*Goes shopping for weedwhackers and hedgetrimmers*

did you know that andrea yates, the woman who is now being re-tried for drowning her 5 children in texas was a nurse? i just thought it was interesting.

imo that just makes it that much more sad/tragic b/c she had the educational reference to seek help and a better understanding of the consequences of not seeking the help she desperately needed! i just cannot relate and the real tragedy is certainly the kids.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.
imo that just makes it that much more sad/tragic b/c she had the educational reference to seek help and a better understanding of the consequences of not seeking the help she desperately needed! i just cannot relate and the real tragedy is certainly the kids.

she was in treatment. she was massively overmedicated and psychotic from it.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/getrelease.asp?id=68954

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Here's a really interesting account from a psych nurse assigned to Andrea Yates:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4032430.html

Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

Wow--no wonder so many people are afraid to admit they have mental health issues and seek treatment. Look how many of us are so ignorant, miseducated/undereducated, biased, and downright cruel to those afflicted...

And for those of you who said she should have saught help, she should have known better, etc etc etc. She was convinced her children would go to hell if they continued to grow. She thought she was saving them by killing them (don't forget, she was in an isolated, radical christian environment).

She was hallucinating and displaced from reality. Her "reality" was a nightmare that bore no semblance to real life. She was hearing demons (which she thought were real), thought she was possessed, etc.

And as for the posters who thought the insanity was part of her master plan...huh!?!? So she spent significant time in mental hospitals, took high doses of meds, and acted crazy for YEARS just so she could get away with killing her kids? And she had 2 or 3 more kids while in the process of carrying out this plan?

Now that's a little detatched from reality, imo.

How can she be held to the same standards as a sane person?

she was in treatment. she was massively over medicated and psychotic from it.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/getrelease.asp?id=68954

thanks for pointing that out as well as the article that shed more light on the treatment she was receiving.

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I've seen movie. The one with Oprah Winfrey, right?

I dunno, is it?

Hi Ladyflower, never "seed" you before :)

wow--no wonder so many people are afraid to admit they have mental health issues and seek treatment. look how many of us are so ignorant, mis educated/undereducated, biased, and downright cruel to those afflicted...

and for those of you who said she should have sought help, she should have known better, etc etc etc. she was convinced her children would go to hell if they continued to grow. she thought she was saving them by killing them (don't forget, she was in an isolated, radical christian environment).

she was hallucinating and displaced from reality. her "reality" was a nightmare that bore no semblance to real life. she was hearing demons (which she thought were real), thought she was possessed, etc.

and as for the posters who thought the insanity was part of her master plan...huh!?!? so she spent significant time in mental hospitals, took high doses of meds, and acted crazy for years just so she could get away with killing her kids? and she had 2 or 3 more kids while in the process of carrying out this plan?

now that's a little detached from reality, imo.

how can she be held to the same standards as a sane person?

you make some very valid points. it is sad that there is so much stigma r/t mental health issues. i think generally speaking it makes people uncomfortable to discuss "it" or feel free to get help w/o a lot of the attached ramifications in addition to what is already mis-understood.

you are right just b/c she was a nurse doesn't mean she can fight the "demons" any better than a doctor can stop a cancer growing inside them beyond whatever medical treatment is avaliable or even a car mechanic never having a wreck just b/c they have additional education and information about how a vehicle operates.

i stand enlightened and better informed thank you!

it is a vary, very, sad thread but one that hopefully we can all learn from and strive to be advocates to our patients should we ever be in the situation or called on to help some one like andrea yates rn

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