Nurses Call the Governor of Tennessee

Anonymous865 · Feb 10, 2019

What do you think you'll accomplish by contacting the governor of Tennessee?

The District Attorney of Davidson County is the person who brought the charges. He doesn't report to the governor. Tennessee like 46 other states elects their District Attorneys.

The governor is a Republican. The district attorney is a Democrat, so the governor can't even use the clot of the political party to try and influence the DA.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 10, 2019

Maybe via an act of executive clemency if she were to be convicted?

Susie2310 · Feb 10, 2019

Nurse Beth, you started a thread: "Nurse Charged with Homicide" which has had over 400 replies, some from very experienced nurses. When I last viewed the thread not long ago it had received over 20,000 views. If I recall correctly at that time a little over 300 posters had taken your poll saying that charges should not be brought, with the rest in favor of the charges. Have you read the thread? Over 400 posters have expressed their views on the thread; perhaps you might like to direct the governor of Tennessee to their replies.

Susie2310 · Feb 10, 2019

32 minutes ago, Susie2310 said:
Nurse Beth, you started a thread: "Nurse Charged with Homicide" which has had over 400 replies, some from very experienced nurses. When I last viewed the thread not long ago it had received over 20,000 views. If I recall correctly at that time a little over 300 posters had taken your poll saying that charges should not be brought, with the rest in favor of the charges. Have you read the thread? Over 400 posters have expressed their views on the thread; perhaps you might like to direct the governor of Tennessee to their replies.

Correction to the above: I meant to say that over 400 comments have been expressed on the thread, not that over 400 posters have expressed their views on the thread.

Career Columnist / Author · Feb 10, 2019

12 hours ago, Anonymous865 said:
What do you think you'll accomplish by contacting the governor of Tennessee?
The District Attorney of Davidson County is the person who brought the charges. He doesn't report to the governor. Tennessee like 46 other states elects their District Attorneys.
The governor is a Republican. The district attorney is a Democrat, so the governor can't even use the clot of the political party to try and influence the DA.

Thank you!

For those who want to contact DA Glenn Funk who brought charges, here is the contact info link. Scroll down and there's an easy field to send an email from this page. I did it in 10 seconds. Just think if hundreds of nurses sent an email.

Wuzzie · Feb 10, 2019

26 minutes ago, Nurse Beth said:
Just think if hundreds of nurses sent an email.

Yes, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we continued to support unsafe nurses by offering slaps on the wrist for despicable lapses in judgement.

Career Columnist / Author · Feb 10, 2019

11 hours ago, Susie2310 said:
Nurse Beth, you started a thread: "Nurse Charged with Homicide" which has had over 400 replies, some from very experienced nurses. When I last viewed the thread not long ago it had received over 20,000 views. If I recall correctly at that time a little over 300 posters had taken your poll saying that charges should not be brought, with the rest in favor of the charges. Have you read the thread? Over 400 posters have expressed their views on the thread; perhaps you might like to direct the governor of Tennessee to their replies.

I sent the poll link to the DA. I hope nurses who do not think a criminal precedent should be established will speak up. `It's hard to disregard hundreds of voices.

Career Columnist / Author · Feb 10, 2019

21 minutes ago, Wuzzie said:
Yes, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we continued to support unsafe nurses by offering slaps on the wrist for despicable lapses in judgement.

Wuzzie, we can agree to disagree. It is a polarizing situation, and highly emotional.

I may be wrong, but I do not support criminal charges for nurses and healthcare workers for a mistake because I look ahead and see where that may lead. Professional discipline, yes. Criminal action, no.

I believe she is already suffering tremendously and putting her in a cell with criminals is not the answer.

Wuzzie · Feb 10, 2019

12 minutes ago, Nurse Beth said:
Wuzzie, we can agree to disagree. It is a polarizing situation, and highly emotional.
I may be wrong, but I do not support criminal charges for nurses and healthcare workers for a mistake because I look ahead and see where that may lead. Professional discipline, yes. Criminal action, no.
I believe she is already suffering tremendously and putting her in a cell with criminals is not the answer.

She did not make a mistake. If she had properly observed the patient for the medication she THOUGHT she gave this patient would not be dead and I would have an entirely different opinion. She slammed 2mg of Versed and walked away. That is the recklessness that takes this way beyond a simple medication error!

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2019

Wuzzie, I don't consider that loss of license and livelihood, civil penalties (lawsuit), and public shame and ridicule are a "slap on the wrist." I agree completely that her mistakes were egregious beyond the pale. I don't see that throwing her in jail is the proper response. I understand that you do and respect your right to hold that opinion, but it's also possible to be a good nurse, to care about patient safety, yet to disagree on what the proper discipline should be.

Wuzzie · Feb 10, 2019

7 minutes ago, Horseshoe said:
Wuzzie, I don't consider that loss of license and livelihood, civil penalties (lawsuit), and public shame and ridicule are a "slap on the wrist." I agree completely that her mistakes were egregious beyond the pale. I don't see that throwing her in jail is the proper response. I understand that you do and respect your right to hold that opinion, but it's also possible to be a good nurse, to care about patient safety, yet to disagree on what the proper discipline should be.

Except she hasn’t lost her license and she is currently employed in another ICU although that may change given the publicity. The family has said they aren’t going to sue. So what’s left? Public shame? Really?

I also don’t recall calling anybody who disagrees with me a “bad nurse”.