Nurses Promoting COVID Misinformation

I am aware of a former colleague (RN) who is frequently posting inaccurate information on Twitter. She is discouraging social distancing, wearing masks and mandatory vaccination. She recently has been promoting the use of unproven medications to treat Covid-19 and states the pandemic is a hoax. This behavior reflects poorly on all health care providers, especially nurses. I don’t know what I could do other than reporting her to the Texas BON. Any ideas?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Hello, @Tigerlily8, we have moved your post to the COVID forum for relevant responses. 

[toomuchbaloney]

Report her misinformation to the platform each and every time she publishes it.  Definitely notify the BON with examples of her unprofessional conduct. We have an ethical obligation to speak out about unprofessional conduct. 

[Tigerlily8]

Thanks for your suggestions. Did you mean report her to Twitter?

[toomuchbaloney]

4 minutes ago, Tigerlily8 said:

Thanks for your suggestions. Did you mean report her to Twitter?

If that is the platform hosting the misinformation, yes.

[HiddencatBSN, BSN]

On 9/18/2021 at 4:29 PM, Tigerlily8 said:

Hi everyone,

I am aware of a former colleague (RN) who is frequently posting inaccurate information on Twitter. She is discouraging social distancing, wearing masks and mandatory vaccination. She recently has been promoting the use of unproven medications to treat Covid-19 and states the pandemic is a hoax. This behavior reflects poorly on all health care providers, especially nurses. I don’t know what I could do other than reporting her to the Texas BON. Any ideas?

Honestly I think nurses should lose their license over this behavior. 

[SmilingBluEyes]

Report her butt to the Board of Nursing pronto.

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

On 9/18/2021 at 4:29 PM, Tigerlily8 said:

I am aware of a former colleague (RN) who is frequently posting inaccurate information on Twitter. She is discouraging social distancing, wearing masks and mandatory vaccination. She recently has been promoting the use of unproven medications to treat Covid-19 and states the pandemic is a hoax. This behavior reflects poorly on all health care providers, especially nurses. I don’t know what I could do other than reporting her to the Texas BON. Any ideas?

I agree with reporting to Twitter. I’m not sure about the BON, honestly. I’m just thinking about all the nurses who promote, like… crystals. Reiki. Essential oils. As treatments for diseases. It’s not really a violation of ethics to publicly say things that are unscientific. 

[Guest219794]

29 minutes ago, CommunityRNBSN said:

It’s not really a violation of ethics to publicly say things that are unscientific. 

I disagree.

There is what I believe to be a generally accepted Code of Ethics based on 4 principles:

• Autonomy
• Beneficence
• Justice
• Non-maleficence

Nonmaleficence 

Nonmaleficence is to do no harm. This is the most well known of the main principles of nursing ethics. More specifically, it is selecting interventions and care that will cause the least amount of harm to achieve a beneficial outcome.

Neither political beliefs or scientific ignorance exempts a nurse from this.  Contributing to a narrative killing millions hardly qualifies as doing no harm.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

On 9/18/2021 at 9:29 PM, Tigerlily8 said:

I am aware of a former colleague (RN) who is frequently posting inaccurate information on Twitter. She is discouraging social distancing, wearing masks and mandatory vaccination. She recently has been promoting the use of unproven medications to treat Covid-19 and states the pandemic is a hoax. This behavior reflects poorly on all health care providers, especially nurses. I don’t know what I could do other than reporting her to the Texas BON. Any ideas?

 

On 9/20/2021 at 9:53 PM, SmilingBluEyes said:

Report her butt to the Board of Nursing pronto.

 

Covid-denier and anti-vaxxer nurse struck off register by NMC

https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/professional-regulation/covid-denier-and-anti-vaxxer-nurse-struck-off-register-by-nmc-04-06-2021/

"The NMC panel heard how Ms Shemirani had “actively discouraged people from wearing masks, adhering to social distancing, and taking vaccinations."

 

I have already posted the above on another thread on this forum.

[Charlcie, BSN, RN]

On 9/18/2021 at 4:29 PM, Tigerlily8 said:

I am aware of a former colleague (RN) who is frequently posting inaccurate information on Twitter. She is discouraging social distancing, wearing masks and mandatory vaccination. She recently has been promoting the use of unproven medications to treat Covid-19 and states the pandemic is a hoax. This behavior reflects poorly on all health care providers, especially nurses. I don’t know what I could do other than reporting her to the Texas BON. Any ideas?

I'm from texas too and a former colleague of mine has a MASSIVE (100s of thousands) following on instagram and frequently posts misinformation. When I read this I immediately pictured my former colleague. 

[SmilingBluEyes]

11 hours ago, Charlcie said:

I'm from texas too and a former colleague of mine has a MASSIVE (100s of thousands) following on instagram and frequently posts misinformation. When I read this I immediately pictured my former colleague. 

Have you reported what you've seen?