Nurse who appeared on Dr. Phil suspended

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jun 8, 2005

FWIW, I saw the program and I was horrified on a multitude of levels. My first thought was, If this was a man doing that to a woman....

So while I am glad the couple is getting help, I was amazed she wasn't locked up on the spot, in addition to having her license suspended.

And that's before they appeared on the show.

LydiaNN · Jun 8, 2005

FWIW, I saw the program and I was horrified on a multitude of levels. My first thought was, If this was a man doing that to a woman....
So while I am glad the couple is getting help, I was amazed she wasn't locked up on the spot, in addition to having her license suspended.
And that's before they appeared on the show.

I think she would have been arrested if someone had called the cops when it happened. They'll probably only charge her now if her husband presses charges, though. I didn't see the show. Did they address how it was this tape came to be available? Was there actually a cameraman recording this beating? If so, wouldn't you think he'd come to the assistance of the victim? Or, if the family was running a tape, did she actually go ahead and do this knowing full well she was being recorded?

pricklypear · Jun 8, 2005

I think she would have been arrested if someone had called the cops when it happened. They'll probably only charge her now if her husband presses charges, though. I didn't see the show. Did they address how it was this tape came to be available? Was there actually a cameraman recording this beating? If so, wouldn't you think he'd come to the assistance of the victim? Or, if the family was running a tape, did she actually go ahead and do this knowing full well she was being recorded?

The cameras were put there by the show. No cameraman. She knew she was being recorded - she was the one who called the show about her husband's drinking problem. So not only did she know someone would see it, she knew it had a good chance of being broadcast on nat. TV.

imenid37 · Jun 9, 2005

I guess what bothers me so much about the nurse that works in a NH, is the fact that she apparently has such an out of control anger management problem. The focus of the show of course was on the spouse, but all of us that work in NH know that there are pt. that will push every button you have, and then some, at times. There is always the possibility that one of the pt. could trigger one of her hot buttons and off she would go. I understand that had she not chosen to air this in public, no one at work would ever have known, and therefore nothing could or would be done about what she might or might not do on her private time, but the fact of the matter is, she did choose to air it, and it is public knowledge at this time that she has these very abusive behaviors. My heart goes out to her and her family and I sincerely hope they get the help they need, but I can't help but think about the pt. also. I know we all work with people that we have absolutely no clue about their private life and so be it, there is nothing we can or should do about that, but, this nurses' life is no longer private. I just think that any time there is a potential for danger to a pt. or another person, that action must be taken to protect everyone involved. Just my opinion.

I agree w/ you completely. We were talking about this at work since we are so close to her area geographically. I saw the show and even if it was dramatized due to editing it was horrible to watch a helpless person being beaten like this. Imagine a tape of someone beating a passed out drunken college kid. It was vulgar. I think it was too sensationalized on the one hand. On the other it was real which was very scary. Her anger issues make her a ver inappropriate person to have in charge of a vulnerable person. I think she is very mentally ill. I feel bad for the family. As I recall, Dr. Phil's advice was that they need to separate because of the violence at least for now. I hope she gets help, but I do think it is right to make her stay away from pt's. Maybe she can do QI/QM or something non-pt. care and earn a living. This is a public nursing home which has had a lot of issues in the past and doesn't need any more bad press. I am waiting for children and youth services to come down on her next. I hope she does work her life out and I hope her husband gives up the drinking too. Just terribly sad esp. for the kids.

Mystery5 · Jun 9, 2005

The cameras were put there by the show. No cameraman. She knew she was being recorded - she was the one who called the show about her husband's drinking problem. So not only did she know someone would see it, she knew it had a good chance of being broadcast on nat. TV.

That sounds very exploitive, for the show to engage in this type of sensationalism. I thought Dr Phil was more respectable than that. Shame on him!

You guys are right, if it had been a man doing the beating everyone would be crying for blood. That's a good point.

LydiaNN · Jun 9, 2005

That sounds very exploitive, for the show to engage in this type of sensationalism. I thought Dr Phil was more respectable than that. Shame on him!
You guys are right, if it had been a man doing the beating everyone would be crying for blood. That's a good point.

That's what I thought when I got to wondering what the cameras were doing there in the first place. Given that the show agreed to put the camera there, they must have had knowledge beforehand that this sort of attack was possible. This couple had to have told them things like this happened. It is really sleazy to have this kind of information and to plant cameras in hopes of catching it on tape. It isn't quite criminal facilitation, but it is close and its just yucky.

lifejourney · Jun 9, 2005

I remember watching that particular show, and thinking to myself: if this woman is a nurse, she is taking a huge professional risk by allowing her behavior to not only be discussed but for very graphic tapes to be aired. I am not surprised to see that she is being investigated/suspended/etc. I would imagine in many states, the board of nursing would be alarmed at that type of behavior. In my state, there are provisions for licensed professionals (MDs, RNs) who develop drug addictions so that they can receive help and maintain their license during a period of treatment, then probation. I don't know what the response would be to a situation like this with obvious physical violence.

Fair or not, nurses are held to a fairly high level of concern for things like this...and, in some ways, I would be mad if we weren't. I wouldn't want the general public to think that this type of violence would be tolerated by the governing bodies of our profession. I just hope that if she is able to resolve her issues she will be given the opportunity to nurse again.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jun 9, 2005

Here's a link to this story I saw yesterday in our local paper. http://www.eveningsun.com/Stories/0,1413,140%257E9956%257E2908493,00.html

IMO, there is no need to go on national television to air your dirty laundry, especially when you run a risk or losing your job, or reputation, but to each its own.

They both knew about the risk involved. How much accuracy can the show depict in a half hour plus all the commercials that go along with it?

I am definetly no one to judge her, but if she did try to get help privately before, how is Dr. Phil going to change things differently than any other local professional? He certaintly cannot force them into treatment. and if they are doing so willingly, then maybe they should have done it privately.

I truly feel for them. They obviously do need the help, and it is nice to know that they are. More so, for the children who have no fault or need to go through that kind of situation. May God bless the entire family and hope they can soon have a fresh start.

Jessica

ageless · Jun 9, 2005

Of course, the BON may not be involved in this issue at all. So many use the word "nurse" in the most generic of terms to describe any person involved with healthcare.

Also, I would think that the NM would put themselves at great risk to employ someone who knowingly had such a propensity for violence. It would be a plantiff attorney's rainmaker.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jun 9, 2005

I am editing my above post, but with a side note. I am truly amazed how awesome and scarey the internet can be. With a few clicks of a mouse, I too can have my life on a BB. Soon there will be no privacy what so ever...especially if one chooses to be televised and have 15 minutes of fame.
[....]QUOTE]
I see how easy it is, but seriously, her name and info should not be printed out here. I just feel that whatever we might think, we shouldn't have to make the family's ordeal worse by potentially attracting Internet scum to this thread and then possibly to the family. I believe that even though much of it's been aired on TV, a lot of this family's information should truly be kept confidential.
JMO.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jun 9, 2005

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