Nurses Promoting COVID Misinformation

[Tigerlily8]

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?

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

On 9/24/2021 at 1:11 PM, CommunityRNBSN said:

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. 

The thing is though, if a person waves a few crystals around, only they are getting hurt. If they are promoting them as a cure, they should also be reported 

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

On 9/28/2021 at 1:40 PM, jive turkey said:

If you want THIS vaccine, took it and have protection, what harm comes to you from the unvaccinated person?  Especially someone that's already had the virus? 

I'm more concerned about the immune compromised patient who cant get the vaccine catching god knows what from the unvaccinated people in the same clinic/ward

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

jive turkey’s post is nine months old. We’ve learned a great deal more about COVID, immunizations, variants, reinfection, long COVID, and more since then. 
Short answer is that we now know that even vaccinated and boosted people can be reinfected with a variant. Almost all don’t get very sick, vanishingly few are hospitalized, and almost none die. But they might be susceptible to complications, or they might carry the virus and go out and infect someone else even if they have been vaccinated. 

[Rita June Jarvis Isaac]

On 9/23/2021 at 9:11 PM, CommunityRNBSN said:

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. 

Wow, great point. These are personal beliefs versus scientific ones and we are all entitled to them. I have encountered many who speak openly in front of clients about not taking the vaccine. I think if you are in the setting, then you should conform and if you disagree, then get out of the setting. If it goes against your personal belief, then why be part of it?

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

34 minutes ago, Rita June Jarvis Isaac said:

Wow, great point. These are personal beliefs versus scientific ones and we are all entitled to them. I have encountered many who speak openly in front of clients about not taking the vaccine. I think if you are in the setting, then you should conform and if you disagree, then get out of the setting. If it goes against your personal belief, then why be part of it?

I wouldn't be bothered about nurses selling snake oils or anti-vax blather as long as they don't identify as nurses.  When we put RN behind our names,  it becomes exploitation.  Like Dr. Oz selling supplements and useless treatments on his TV show.  He gets to keep his license but has lost his privileges, at least, at Columbia. 

[Rita June Jarvis Isaac]

I agree it is exploitation as the influence of a health professional is so real. People are so gullible, they believe it once someone with influence says it.