Below is the official statement regarding the death of allnurses.com Founder, Brian Short. Some of you may have seen an earlier statement posted here that contained additional information. We have removed that statement because we are committed to protecting the privacy of all concerned. Thank you for your support. We are committed to pursuing the allnurses mission and supporting our community. Thank you for your continued support.
Official Statement Regarding Passing of Brian Short, Founder of allnurses.com, September 12, 2015
We are deeply saddened by the unexpected death of Brian Short, founder of allnurses.com. We respectfully request that you grant the company's employees, friends, families and associates privacy during this difficult time. allnurses will continue to support nursing professionals by providing an unparalleled peer-to-peer online community where they can share experiences and learn from and support one another.
Please use this thread to post your comments of condolence and gratitude for Brian who created this wonderful nursing community that has benefited so many.
I've been a member since the early 90's. Still remember the thrill an envelope full of allnurses pens could bring. I'd become a moderator again if you'd pay me in pens!
I don't think there is an explanation that will make this compute, so at this point I don't care who did what. Brian was a kind caring man, and he will remain that way to me. As far as leaving a legacy, nothing will remove the work he put into this site, and the help our members have shown others. Plus a few bellylaughs when we weren't so helpful, right? Peace to all our members.
I've been a member of Allnurses since 2003, and was privileged to have been a moderator several years ago. Allnurses saw me through nursing school, a diagnosis of cancer and my first position as an RN. I know, to the very depths of my soul, that I would not be the nurse, or the person, that I am now. For that, I owe Brian Short and his legacy my never ending gratitude.
I cannot wrap my mind around this horrific tragedy. I just don't have the words, except to say that I am heartbroken. May God's grace and love embrace Brian and Karen and their children.
This broke my heart today. Suicide is a topic that hits close to home for me. I never knew Brian, though I have been a lurker on Allnurses for a long time before becoming a member. I can't begin to describe how much this website has influenced my career and myself as a person, or how much I have learned and continue to learn. I will be forever grateful to Brian and everyone who made this website possible, as well as those who continue to do so.
This reinforces to me that we never can guess another persons demons or struggles. Someone may appear (and actually be) very successful and blessed in many ways, but experiencing turmoil internally or behind closed doors. The despair and hopelessness that drives a person to commit similar actions are beyond my comprehension, but my heart breaks for everyone in the situation.
I look at pictures of him and his family and choke up. It's impossible to understand this. Whatever happened, Brian did wonderful things as a person and they were a beautiful family. I can't imagine how hurt, shocked, and confused their extended family feel during this time of loss and grieving. My prayers and heart go out to them, as well as the moderators and administrators in this website.
May the family rest in peace. I was so saddened hearing about this and am having a hard time understanding it. If anyone else reading this is stressed about life, please talk to someone, decompress..please do not kill yourself or others. We need to share our concerns and feelings and ask for help. Tomorrow is a new day and people can forgive.
A tragedy in so many ways. I really don't know what to say.
This site will always hold a special place in my heart as well as appreciation for all of the people who make it such great place.
It was a great idea that Brian birthed and nurtured until it it was ready to leave the nest. And now it is the village of nurses and friends that will keep it going and growing.
This is so tragic. I have not been around this website for a long time, due to busy life. but I remember so many sleepless nights, triumphs only nurses would understand, long days at work, and advice needed for help. This site was always there. It will be here for so many forever. Remember the man who made it all possible.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I keep hoping that I'm going to wake up and this will have been a horrible dream. I know that isn't going to happen. But I wish it could.
It doesn't matter one whit to me what exactly happened or why. It is a tragedy beyond imagining for every single person who knew and loved this amazing family. Period.
We all have things in our lives that we're not proud of, things we wish we had done - or NOT done, things that others wouldn't understand or believe, not even those closest to us. Every last one of us has no room to criticize or second-guess.
As a long-time member of the AN family and a moderator for 9 years, I appreciate all the support being offered from this community... it's a reflection of the type of person drawn to this sort of site. For those whose meanness of spirit cannot be contained, I simply ask this. Please do not share your thoughts publicly. They reflect very badly on you, and only you.
Brian, Karen, Cole, Madison and Brooklynn will be missed.
So very sad. My heart goes out to everyone who loved him. Thank you, Brian, for a place we can go when we need a laugh, need advice, or need to connect with others who can relate to us. AN has been such an influential tool for so many students and nurses.
Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.
This site has been so educational and supportive for me in many phases of my career. I'm incredibly grateful for the legacy Brian left behind, and my condolences to those who knew and loved him and his family. Such tragic news. A co-worker told me and I was just shocked.
brandy1017, ASN, RN
2,910 Posts
This is such a tragedy for Brian and his family, friends, loved ones and all of us here at all nurses. May God watch over all of them in heaven.