Charles Cullen and Other Healthcare Serial Killers

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I saw a story last night about Charles Cullen, former RN in New Jersey. Charles had a rough start in life - his father died a few months before he was born. He was a "late in life" baby, the youngest of 8. Mom had to work outside the home after her husband died. It made me wonder who took care of Charles and how well he was cared for. Money was always tight and I guess the home was a sad place, a somber place. I don't know that for sure, as the show glossed over his early home life and teen years. His marriage also did not go well, resulting in divorce.

He is believed to have intentionally taken the lives of possibly 400 patients. He used Digoxin and Insulin, maybe other meds.

He first said it was to relieve suffering, but many of the patients were young and healthy enough to be ready for discharge. Some of the victims weren't even his patients.

He was suspected right from the start, but that hospital merely let him resign and never began the process of involving law enforcement. This happened at 8 different hospitals where he worked over the course of 16 years. Those employers should definitely be held accountable.

The result is that there is a law now that requires NJ nurses to "If you see something, say something". I wonder if it requires those to whom we say it to also report it to Administrators and Police.

Have you ever worked with anyone who you thought might be "Cullening"? I have not, although I did work with a couple of nurses who were stealing controlled's, both got caught and were disciplined by State Board.

Ever heard of Genene Jones? LVN in Texas, killed 2 little girls under the ruse of giving vaccinations in a Pediatrician's office. She actually gave them succinylcholine, resp muscle paralyzing agent. Why, in God's name, would that med ever have been in a doctor's office? It should be used only in Surgery.

Anyway, her previous employer also did not report her suspicious behavior to authorities when she worked in a hospital. It was found that when she was on duty in ICU, many codes happened - far more than when she wasn't on duty. Her drug of choice then was Heparin. She'd shove people aside, she'd jump over beds to get to the bedside of the afflicted first so she could do her heroics. Hospital banned LVN's from ICU. How bold of them! Jones quit and went to the doc's office. There she managed to kill 2 little girls who were there for routine checkup's and vax.

I hope GJ is still in prison in Texas, although I think she might be out.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Orville Majors in Indiana. Was active when I practiced at a nearby hospital. Scary stuff! (He recently died in prison)

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Orville Majors in Indiana. Was active when I practiced at a nearby hospital. Scary stuff! (He recently died in prison)

Wow, it is indeed scary. Did you ever meet him?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Wow, it is indeed scary. Did you ever meet him?

No- BUT we had fired a male RN a couple of months earlier from our ICU. For the first week or so of the media surrounding this case- they were not releasing the suspect's name, and we seriously thought it was our guy.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

How the DON at his final hospital avoid charges is beyond me. She LIED to the police saying that the pixis only stores records for 30 days hindering the investigation. If Cullen's friend hadn't passed information and records to the police they never would have made the case.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I have a bizarre interest in reading about serial killers (probably because the most notorious one in my area was my neighbor) and I've worked with some real scumsuckers.

But nary the twain hast met thus far.

[Samm06, BSN, RN]

It is so interesting that this post is on here. I am currently reading The Good Nurse by Charles Graeber which is about Charles Cullen and his serial killings. I highly recommend reading this book! I can't put it down.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I was the lucky one in charge when the cops flooded the employment place looking for the employee who was decapitating people. The weeks afterward where the most time filled with unease that I have ever encountered. Staff was so freaked.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I was the lucky one in charge when the cops flooded the employment place looking for the employee who was decapitating people. The weeks afterward where the most time filled with unease that I have ever encountered. Staff was so freaked.

Yeah, we're gonna need more details

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

Not a killer nurse, but I worked with a nurse that is now in jail for sexually assaulting three patients.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I was the lucky one in charge when the cops flooded the employment place looking for the employee who was decapitating people. The weeks afterward where the most time filled with unease that I have ever encountered. Staff was so freaked.

Was this actually happening?

[maxthecat]

Michael Swango was a physician who was a serial killer. Same problem of hospitals not communicating with each other let him continue far longer than he should have.