ER Nurse's "Funky Flu" Video Goes Viral

[Sarah Matacale]

We've all had these moments after working a particularly insane shift. We have to vent. Your brain is still reeling, you are exhausted yet still in overdrive. Sometimes it's related to coworkers or employer issues, but many times it relates to our patients. Let's face it, healthcare is a combination of the science of medicine, the art of nurturing, the business of hospitality and service and the skills of retail and education. We deal with people at their worst. They are sick, scared, frustrated, angry for either themselves or a family member or friend. We get the brunt of it all. Somedays frustrated doesn't even come close to explain how we feel, especially when the illness or injury that brought them to be under our care is preventable. We just want to say, "what on earth are you thinking?" and "Let me tell you something right now....!"

Katherine Lockler, an Emergency room nurse from Milton Florida did just that via social media. Dubbed the The "funky flu" video, Katherine went to facebook with a bit of advice for people on how to avoid the flu and how to protect yourself and others. Her video titled "After Work Thoughts", quickly went "viral" with over 4 million views at the time this article was written. In her post, Katherine is direct, matter of fact, sarcastic and very honest about what she is seeing as an ER nurse during this flu season. The video provides helpful tips on how to avoid the flu this season, as well as how to properly protect yourself and others in a funny and dramatic way, such as how to properly sneeze and cover. She also provides some insight into what an ER nurses shift looks like during this flu season by discussing Emergency Room wait times, asking people to understand and trust that the person seen before you is more sick than you are. She goes on the talk candidly about the anger, cursing and frustration given by patients to the nurse, explaining that wait times are due to several factors that one can not see beyond the lobby. Most of the reactions from viewers has been positive especially from fellow nurses and medical personnel, but as with anything posted on social media, Katherine's video has had some negative feedback. Several have expressed their offense to her "sarcastic tone" and demeanor and according to several media sites, Katherine has allegedly been turned in to the Board of Nursing.

While we can't know for sure of the facts surrounding the alleged report, an online petition, showing support for Katherine, has been formed to be submitted to the Board of Nursing. The petition reads: "Katherine Smith Locklear is an ER Nurse. She posted an AMAZING video on facebook regarding the flu and how it is spread along with great tips on home treatment. For her time and effort, she is being reported to the Board of Registered Nursing and her hospital."

This presents several hot-topics for thought and discussion. What did Katherine do or say that presents a valid complaint to the Board of Nursing? Does a nurse have the right to vent about her job, shift, or patient experience on social media if the names and exact details are left out? What about after your shift ends and you meet coworkers for dinner and vent out loud without disclosing names? Does this border on HIPAA violations? Does the hospital or Board of Nursing have the right to penalize this or any nurse who sends a strong message via social media? Is what you do on your time your business or does Katherine's video reflect upon her employer?

Does her "tone" work to educate the public here, or did it hurt? Katherine responded in an interview with TCPalm stating: "I think there's a little bit of sarcasm in my voice because the instructions were given so many times and they were not received well," Lockler told TCPalm. "I tend to be sarcastic in all my speaking, but if it's taken wrong, I would definitely apologize to that group that misheard my message because of my tone. The message is still right on the money, but if the tone was offensive, that was not the intention."

I, like many others, caught this video on my facebook feed and watched from beginning to end. Of note, I rarely watch any video on social media in its entirety. Her manner of speaking, the tone, the subject matter and the stone cold truth about life as a nurse during one of the worst flu seasons in the past decade, had my attention. I found myself waiting to hear what else she would say. She did provide a public service regarding flu prevention and care, but I will say that the whole time I watched, I asked myself several of the above listed questions. I wondered how this would be received.

No matter your thoughts, Katherine Lochler has sparked media attention including such national sites as FoxNews and hit instant stardom with her video rant regarding "the cesspool of funky flu in the ER". I would love to hear thoughts on this healthcare/ social media topic. How many of us know if our hospital or State Board of Nursing has policies on such matters? Did she go too far or is Katherine the "Hero nurse" that several followers have dubbed her as she speaks up and supports nurses and healthcare workers?

[kp2016]

I found this is hysterical. I'm thinking management at her hospital will probably won't. This is why you shouldn't post to social media when you are impaired (tired in this case), or if you do use a meme or some sort of disguise, like the also hysterical Darth Vader in the ER clips.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I think she would be in trouble from the hospital where she works, not the BON. At my facility, this would be a fireable offense.

[Kitiger, RN]

I think what bothered me most about it was the nonchalant handing out of advice regarding OTC medications. There is a big difference between a big guy who is in his 20s and a big guy who is 70 years old and maybe his organs are not functioning like they used to. I also think many people do not understand that a lot of the combination OTC meds out there already contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and they could easily overdo it if they combine these things.

Overall, I think in her effort to be cute and get attention, she has lost sight of the fact that so many people put their faith in doctors & nurses, and will often take their advice at face value without doing any research or critical thinking themselves. Even as a student in clinicals, I see that we have to choose our words carefully so as not to steer someone in the wrong direction.

Not to mention the fact that our fever serves a purpose, and really only needs to be heavily medicated like this under certain circumstances. I think issuing a blanket statement like this to the world has done a disservice. OTC pain meds will mask symptoms & make people feel they can go out into the world and do all of the things they normally do, when they should be home in bed and not out spreading their germs around.

I agree that her advising that it's OK to exceed the dose on the OTC med's package is problematic, partly for the reasons stated above, but also because she seems to be prescribing. The difference between OTC Ibuprofen and prescribed Ibuprofen is the dose. I would not advise a person to exceed the OTC dose; their doctor, NP, or PA should make that call. She could be in trouble with the BON for that one.

The other issue is her employer's policy on social media. Even if she had not said anything about changing the dose on the Ibuprofen, she seems to be setting herself up for discipline - possibly termination - from her employer.

She was mildly sarcastic, especially with her tone of voice, but not over the top. The Ibuprofen comments are what bothered me.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Okay, I watched the video (I watched 4:05 of it, I turned it off because I found her voice to be grating at 5:54am without yet having a full cup of coffee).

I thought she was annoying and patronizing.

[Davey Do]

You people have so much more patience and the ability to focus than I do. I briefed over this article yesterday and started the video. After a few seconds of hearing this nasally nurse go

I went back to my classical music and reading other threads.

[AceOfHearts<3]

I saw it last week on FB and as others have stated, I did not like her saying take a higher dose of Advil and/or Tylenol.

I'm always super careful and very clear with my patients about not going over 3000-4000mg of Tylenol in a 24 hour period. Nothing is mentioned about Tylenol toxicity. I've taken care of a person who accidentally ODed on Tylenol and was heading towards maybe needing a liver transplant- it's nothing to mess around with. I've called up the pharmacy to ask the amount of acetaminophen in a prescribed med when discharging a patient. I wrote it all out on the paperwork and I was very clear about not exceeding 3000-4000mg in ALL meds and the need to read the ingredients in any OTC meds since some contain Tylenol and people don't realize it.

Also, GI bleeds are nothing to mess around with either. We've had patients who would have died before they could have gotten to a hospital if they hadn't already been in the hospital when the bleed presented or really reared its ugly head. I wouldn't be telling people who probably aren't eating and who knows what other meds they are on to take 2-3 times the dose. I do take extra Advil at times, but I'm educated- I know I'm not taking other meds that are in the same category or that would thin my blood even more AND I always take it on a full stomach. I have a friend who was told to take high doses of Aleve by an ortho doctor for a sports injury- she ended up developing an ulcer from it (the doctor did not even touch on side effects, things to look out for, etc). My friend is a very educated and intelligent person, but was very ignorant about common OTC meds.

As someone else stated, if an individual thinks they need a higher dosage than what is on the bottle they should contact their PCP.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

My thoughts are...she looks way too put together for this to be "after work thoughts" after an insane shift in the ER.

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I think this woman is at high risk of being fired.

As for advising the public to exceed the recommended dosages of OTC meds...yikes. Not a very smart thing to do.

[Crystal-Wings, LVN]

Venting about your nursing job (about patients, your employer, etc.) on social media never seems to end well. When will people realize this? There's always something in the news about some nurse caught posting pictures of a patient or posting something they don't like about the place they work, or name dropping patient info or stuff about coworkers, etc. to their Facebook/other social media site. *smh*

[wondern, ASN]

I like that she reminded people to cover their sneezes/coughs, and also to use their inner elbow instead of hand. I forget the newer more modern method sometime and go old school and use my hand then have to wash again.

It surprises me how many people just sneeze openly all over and don't cover at all. As y'all know young healthy people are being taken by this flu. It's been really deadly this year.

[Wheels28]

Just a patient- I do wonder what made her think by making this video she is going to change things. It's on the news every night (with healthcare workers being interviewed.) all over the internet and everywhere else. Also dispensing OTC meds advice when she doesn't even know what's wrong with the person is a problem. I think she's just looking for attention. Which she got, but I see it backfiring. I'm sure if she gets in trouble we'll see her on the morning shows apologizing.

One thing that stuck out to me in a print article I read she said " I tend to always talk in a sarcastic tone." I would hope she would tone that part of her personality down or turn it off completely while at work. I can take a joke however when, I'm sick or injured the LAST thing I want is someone being sarcastic towards me.

[EaglesWings21, ASN, RN]

Disclaimer: I did not watch the video.

While I understand the sentiment and frustration with the majority of the public misconception with the flu, vaccines, and health care in general, I disagree with ranting to the public in a sarcastic manner on subjects only those in the medical field might understand. I also disagree with publicly making recommendations to anyone for OTC medicines. Finally, I disagree with discouraging people to seek medical attention. As a mother of a child with asthma and as a nurse that has heard story after story of people being fine one day and dropping dead the next this flu season, I think we should listen to our patients and provide a thorough assessment should they seek treatment.

One last thought, this video seems attention seeking and has an air of self-importance about it. We didn't get into nursing to say we were smarter than the general public; we got into it to help people.