Nurse Practitioner had live sex for online viewing

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

In Virginia, Susanna Gibson, NP, a candidate for the state legislature, was discovered to have had livestream sex acts with her husband.  "Susanna Gibson encouraged viewers to send her tips—“raising money for a good cause,” she told them—in exchange for performing whatever sex acts the tipper desired. The couple had more than 5,700 followers on Chaturbate."

"The district is one of the few true toss-ups in November's election . . . No matter how the residents of Virginia's 57th District feel about their would-be delegate doing sex work on a public platform, this revelation sure does complicate the election campaign Gibson, a nurse practitioner, is currently running against Republican David Owen, a retiree and former homebuilder . . . What's worse, Gibson dramatically outspent her Republican competitor in their respective primaries, putting her at a major financial disadvantage going into the general election. In the Democratic primary earlier this year, Gibson spent $300,000 of the $377,000 she has raised to beat rival Democrat Bob Shippee, while Owen, the Republican, spent just half his funds, since he had no primary opponent."

Regardless of Ms. Gibson's politics, this shows an appalling lack of judgment.  Part of me finds this funny, but it also is upsetting, as NPs have been fighting so hard for respect.  She can do what she wants, but to think this would not be discovered if she ran for office?  Unbelievable.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I think it's unfortunate but I don't really extrapolate this situation to any reflection on NPs in general. There are people that make questionable life choices (in my opinion) in all walks of life. If I hear a local news story about a teacher who has had an inappropriate relationship with a student, it has no impact on my view of teachers in general, it's limited to that one person. (Not really the same since that's illegal) I have coworkers that get paid to take pictures of their feet. Weird? Yes, but it pays the bills. I guess what this woman did as a consenting adult in a marriage relationship might be a questionable decision, but if she got some money to pay her bills, so what? it doesn't really affect my view of NPs in any way.

[toomuchbaloney]

It's not like she was caught groping her partner in a crowded theater. 

[chare]

I saw this not long after it broke and thought about posting it.  After a few minutes thought I opted not to for two reasons.  First, nothing good is going to come out of this.  Second, and most important, at least in my opinion, what two, or more consenting adults engage in really doesn't concern me.

It does emphasize something I think many forget, or never thought about at all: Once you post something to the internet, it's forever.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

chare said:

what two, or more consenting adults engage in really doesn't concern me.

It does emphasize something I think many forget, or never thought about at all: Once you post something to the internet, it's forever.

While I agree that what 2 consenting adults do (as long as it does not involve other beings that can't give consent like children, animals, disabled persons, etc) is private, it isn't really private when it is posted on the internet.  In addition, when an NP decides to run for public office, then does this AFTER becoming a candidate, it shows incredibly poor judgement and frankly, not much intelligence.  She has now whined that it is "dirty" that the opposition leaked this.  Hmmm - and she thinks she is capable of being in politics?  It makes her look like an idiot.  And how do you think this is going to manifest in her clinical practice?  How will patients perceive her?  

I see no reason not to post this.  She was willing to have sex publicly for anyone willing to pay, so it's not like we should all be hush hush about this.  

[toomuchbaloney]

FullGlass said:

While I agree that what 2 consenting adults do (as long as it does not involve other beings that can't give consent like children, animals, disabled persons, etc) is private, it isn't really private when it is posted on the internet.  In addition, when an NP decides to run for public office, then does this AFTER becoming a candidate, it shows incredibly poor judgement and frankly, not much intelligence.  She has now whined that it is "dirty" that the opposition leaked this.  Hmmm - and she thinks she is capable of being in politics?  It makes her look like an idiot.  And how do you think this is going to manifest in her clinical practice?  How will patients perceive her?  

I see no reason not to post this.  She was willing to have sex publicly for anyone willing to pay, so it's not like we should all be hush hush about this.  

Who suggested that one should be hush hush about this matter? We have lots of evidence that a person making themselves look like an idiot or demonstrating bad judgement doesn't preclude them from running for or getting elected to office.  It seems like maybe you are campaigning against her candidacy. We have a politics section in the Breakroom.

 

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

toomuchbaloney said:

Who suggested that one should be hush hush about this matter? We have lots of evidence that a person making themselves look like an idiot or demonstrating bad judgement doesn't preclude them from running for or getting elected to office.  It seems like maybe you are campaigning against her candidacy. We have a politics section in the Breakroom.

 

I have no political interest in the Virginia state elections.  I intended this more as a general post for NPs.  It falls under general practice professionalism and judgment.  

As for hush-hush, perhaps I misspoke.  But another responder stated they thought about posting, but decided not to, "because no good will come of it."

As a professional, NPs should be aware that it is important for them to project professionalism.  Failing to do so could have negative career ramifications.

My first NP job was in a very small rural town where almost everyone knew everyone else.  That meant whenever I went out in public, I would run into one of my patients - there was no avoiding it.  The CMO instructed me to always be cognizant of being professional in public, as failure to do so would reflect poorly on me and also on the clinic.  This is just common sense, which evidently is woefully uncommon.  While I had that job, if it was discovered I was having live sex on the internet (even with my own husband) and asking for money to do so, I would probably have been fired.  This would not have gone over well with the community.  Remember, most states are "right to work," meaning an employee can be fired for pretty much any reason.  

So, the purpose of posting was to provide NPs with food for thought around professional behavior, even in their "personal" lives, especially when putting stuff on the internet and/or social media.  Never assume anything is private.  I was also interested in what other NPs thought about this.

[toomuchbaloney]

FullGlass said:

I have no political interest in the Virginia state elections.  I intended this more as a general post for NPs.  It falls under general practice professionalism and judgment.  

As for hush-hush, perhaps I misspoke.  But another responder stated they thought about posting, but decided not to, "because no good will come of it."

As a professional, NPs should be aware that it is important for them to project professionalism.  Failing to do so could have negative career ramifications.

My first NP job was in a very small rural town where almost everyone knew everyone else.  That meant whenever I went out in public, I would run into one of my patients - there was no avoiding it.  The CMO instructed me to always be cognizant of being professional in public, as failure to do so would reflect poorly on me and also on the clinic.  This is just common sense, which evidently is woefully uncommon.  While I had that job, if it was discovered I was having live sex on the internet (even with my own husband) and asking for money to do so, I would probably have been fired.  This would not have gone over well with the community.  Remember, most states are "right to work," meaning an employee can be fired for pretty much any reason.  

So, the purpose of posting was to provide NPs with food for thought around professional behavior, even in their "personal" lives, especially when putting stuff on the internet and/or social media.  Never assume anything is private.  I was also interested in what other NPs thought about this.

I rather think that the majority of NPs already understand the concept of professionalism. They are well respected as a group.   

Most people wouldn't assume that something they put on an internet site, for profit, was "private". IMV Maybe the NP will lose her job, maybe she won't.  

 

[AlpacaTraveLlamaDNP]

I would need to see these airings before coming to any conclusion, or forming any opinion.

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

That is one of the things that I dislike about being a nurse, being judged. While I wouldn't do what that NP did, that is her, and her husband's business, and as consenting adults have the right to make those videos if they choose. I am not going to pass judgement, and nor should anyone else. I don't think it is fair that Nurses be held to a higher standard than the rest of the average population. We can't have psych disorders, and take meds for it in order to maintain normalcy. If a nurse goes through a traumatic event, attempts suicide, and ends up in a psych hospital, they have the potential to have their license suspended, modified, or revoked. We are people too, and have flaws, faults, but can't show them. I find that utterly ridiculous. 

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Maybe she was looking for Republican votes....?

[chare]

NutmeggeRN said:

Maybe she was looking for Republican votes....?

What exactly are you trying to say?