Driver in fatal crash has had her license suspended

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
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The California Board of Registered Nursing has suspended the license of Nicole Linton, the traveling nurse accused of being behind the wheel during a fiery crash in Windsor Hills that killed six people.

Linton's license was ...

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Driver in deadly Windsor Hills crash has nursing license suspended

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Specializes in Critical Care.
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Veronica Esquival was at a nearby gas station when the crash happened and said the body of a small child landed in front of her.

“One of the workers came and saw me with the baby and took the baby out of my hands. Somebody tried to resuscitate the baby but the baby was gone,” Esquivel said at the time.

 

People like this make the world a more dangerous place than it needs to be.

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The CA BON felt the heat.  Every news story led with, "A nurse......"    

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Well that's a horrific crash. Doesn't matter what the driver does for a living, driving that fast through a crowded intersection is just so not OK. Though I do find it interesting that while that article is quick to jump on the fact that she's a nurse, a travel nurse from Texas specifically  they sure don't address the background of the crash at all. Not that it excuses the outcome at all but was this nurse coming off a long shift? Long hours,  little to no sleep can certainly contribute to a tragedy like this. 

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Nobody is perfect and fatigue is definitely a thing. However, I cannot really think of any justification for going 90 in a 35 and blasting thru a red light and intersection.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

There is some speculation that she was trying to commit suicide. She has a history of emotional problems and at least one involuntary psych hospitalization. 

As I have mentioned on more that one occasion the BONs have a mandate to protect public safety. While a nurse may claim that they were over tired, stressed Lacking sleep after multiple shifts etc...... It's up to each nurse to practice within safe limits and set firm boundaries. If you are tired (exausted) you need to say no to the overtime. One of the acts that the BON considers reckless is acting with poor judgement. 

Before you think I'm just picking on nurses I am not. I was impaired by untreated depression, substance use and tried to kill myself. Getting treatment and learning how to set boundaries sved my life.

Hppy

 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
10 hours ago, hppygr8ful said:

It's up to each nurse to practice within safe limits and set firm boundaries. If you are tired (exausted) you need to say no to the overtime.

I'm not saying that anyone's job is more important than a life. However, if I refuse overtime and it's my turn to be mandated, even the union says that I will lose my job. So, I work the shift and hope for the best. I hope that 99 times out of a hundred, I will make it home safely and no one else will ever be impacted by my exhaustion. But in that 1 out of 100 times (I hope it's even less than that), maybe there's a tragic accident because someone took the chance, not because they don't care about another life, but because they need the job. 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
2 hours ago, JBMmom said:

I'm not saying that anyone's job is more important than a life. However, if I refuse overtime and it's my turn to be mandated, even the union says that I will lose my job. So, I work the shift and hope for the best. I hope that 99 times out of a hundred, I will make it home safely and no one else will ever be impacted by my exhaustion. But in that 1 out of 100 times (I hope it's even less than that), maybe there's a tragic accident because someone took the chance, not because they don't care about another life, but because they need the job. 

I have worked for 20 years in non union hospitals for good pay and have never once been mandated I thought unions were supposed to protect workers.

that being said I do work a fair amount of overtime usually worked out to be mutually beneficial to both the facility and myself. But again I am never mandated, I am always asked. 
I learned how to negotiate at an early age. People always talk about how nurses need to be treated like professionals and yet  in 2022 we still wear name tags and punch time clocks

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
16 hours ago, hppygr8ful said:

I have worked for 20 years in non union hospitals for good pay and have never once been mandated I thought unions were supposed to protect workers.

Both of the hospitals I work in, one union and one non-union, mandate nurses regularly. Especially with the current staffing levels, no one is volunteering to work overtime, it's all mandating. And if you refuse you can be let go.

There is another local hospital that does not mandate staff, but then they end up with unsafe patient ratios. Feels like a lose-lose situation all over the place lately. 

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On 8/22/2022 at 7:59 AM, hppygr8ful said:

Read in its entirety:

Driver in deadly Windsor Hills crash has nursing license suspended

I believe the driver had something like 12 previous accidents. It was reported that she was under the influence. Not sure if that’s true or not. She clearly has issues and should not be working as a nurse. I think her license should be revoked and not just suspended. Not much sympathy here. 

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
21 hours ago, jobellestarr said:

I believe the driver had something like 12 previous accidents. It was reported that she was under the influence. Not sure if that’s true or not. She clearly has issues and should not be working as a nurse. I think her license should be revoked and not just suspended. Not much sympathy here. 

Looks like a pretty cut and dry conviction of some sort.  She will be in jail a long time and will not be a licensed nurse if and when she gets out.  The streets are safer with her in jail.

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Specializes in oncology.

Here is an article from the Daily Mail. I am assuming this is the deadly accident that is being discussed. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11162953/ICU-nurse-no-recollection-LA-crash-having-mental-collapse-killing-six.html

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