"The Death Shift" (true crime book about nurse/serial killer)

Published

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Shift-Story-Genene-Murders/dp/0451401964/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275935047&sr=1-1

This is by far the better of the two books about this horrendous case; I first read it about 20 years ago, and now that I have a pharmacy degree under my belt, makes this story all the more terrifying.

I used to work at one of the hospitals where Michael Swango did his thing (although he is not believed to have killed anyone here) and the way their records were BOTH covered up amazes me. And this particular story happened 30 years ago.

Has anyone else read this, or knew anyone involved?

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If I am not mistaken, I believe this case was featured on Tru TV's Forensic Files a while ago.

I watch that show religiously and seen just about most of the episodes and I remember that the doctor in this case was able to open up a private pedi clinic after this nurse was caught.

Maybe this is the same case?

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Specializes in mental health, military nursing.

I love book recommendations! :D Sounds like some good, creepy, poolside reading - I'll check it out!

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Specializes in Level 1, Level 2, Level 4 trauma and med.

I actually passionately hate nurse killers. I never would spend a dime reading a book about one. I've devoted most of my life to helping others, EMT-P to RN, and because of these freaks, we now need FBI backround checks, fingerprints cards, adult and child abuse screenigs, all that and more, as a basline to qualify, to get a nursing job. Nope, forget these guys.

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
If I am not mistaken, I believe this case was featured on Tru TV's Forensic Files a while ago.

I watch that show religiously and seen just about most of the episodes and I remember that the doctor in this case was able to open up a private pedi clinic after this nurse was caught.

Maybe this is the same case?

I love Forensic Files! Did you see it this past weekend (late Friday night) in which one episode was about a 50-year-old seemingly healthy politician who suddenly died and another was about a 24-year-old seemingly healthy college student who was found dead in her apartment? I won't say anything more because if you haven't seen them, I don't want to spoil them for you----but they were fascinating!

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

I too read it about over twenty years ago while working in San Antonio. Frightening.

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If I am not mistaken, I believe this case was featured on Tru TV's Forensic Files a while ago.

I watch that show religiously and seen just about most of the episodes and I remember that the doctor in this case was able to open up a private pedi clinic after this nurse was caught.

Maybe this is the same case?

Dr. Kathleen Holland was a solo practitioner and Genene Jones was her nurse. Jones was making babies and nonverbal older children crash because (among other things) she wanted their local hospital, which was by no means in a large population center, to open a pediatric ICU which would be run by her.

I found out recently that Jones will be eligible for parole in about 5 years. :eek: :down: Dr. Holland's career was nearly ruined almost before it began because of this, but she was able to rebuild her practice.

ETA: Dr. Holland is even in the same city, and retains a license in good standing.

http://reg.tmb.state.tx.us/OnLineVerif/Phys_ReportVerif.asp?ID_NUM=66810&Type=LP

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This reminds me of a project I did in Grade 11 law. It was a nurse at Sick Kids in Toronto in 1981 and she was charged with the murder of four babies. All together there were over 20 babies that had been poisoned by digoxin. Her case was eventually thrown out because she wasn't on duty for a couple of the deaths. Anyway, her name was Susan Nelles. Very sad...

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This reminds me of a project I did in Grade 11 law. It was a nurse at Sick Kids in Toronto in 1981 and she was charged with the murder of four babies. All together there were over 20 babies that had been poisoned by digoxin. Her case was eventually thrown out because she wasn't on duty for a couple of the deaths. Anyway, her name was Susan Nelles. Very sad...

That story is mentioned in the book because one of the doctors there was also involved with this case, having trained in Toronto.

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Dr. Kathleen Holland was a solo practitioner and Genene Jones was her nurse. Jones was making babies and nonverbal older children crash because (among other things) she wanted their local hospital, which was by no means in a large population center, to open a pediatric ICU which would be run by her.

I found out recently that Jones will be eligible for parole in about 5 years. :eek: :down: Dr. Holland's career was nearly ruined almost before it began because of this, but she was able to rebuild her practice.

ETA: Dr. Holland is even in the same city, and retains a license in good standing.

http://reg.tmb.state.tx.us/OnLineVerif/Phys_ReportVerif.asp?ID_NUM=66810&Type=LP

Yes, this case was featured on Forenisc Files. And I believe the nurse in question was a LPN.

From the Forensic Files case, she was causing the babies to go into cardiac arrest, then will try to save them. I forgot what drug she was using to do this. I do remember the commentator (sp?) stated that the nurse was told the hospital she worked at could not open a PICU and she was quoted as saying "there are sick babies out there, you just have to go out and find them", or something along those lines.

The doctor did eventually rebuild her practice but she nearly lost everything in the process.

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I love Forensic Files! Did you see it this past weekend (late Friday night) in which one episode was about a 50-year-old seemingly healthy politician who suddenly died and another was about a 24-year-old seemingly healthy college student who was found dead in her apartment? I won't say anything more because if you haven't seen them, I don't want to spoil them for you----but they were fascinating!

Yes, I seen it! Wasnt her husband a nurse who did this? There was also a case where a nurse killed his co-worker with a deadly dose of propofol he stolen from work.

I love this show! One reason why I'm becoming a SANE and getting certified in Forensic Nursing!

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Specializes in Gerontology.

Not only did Genene Jones kill babies in Dr Holland's practise, but she did it in the PICU she worked at before she joined Dr Holland. She liked the adrenalin rush of a Code Blue. Scary lady!

I remember the Sick Kid's murders too. There is also a book about that - its very good. I think they went after the wrong nurse. As someone pointed out Susan Nelles wasn't even on duty for all of the deaths. The book doesn't come out and accuse anyone, but you can draw some pretty strong conclusions. I think that book was also called "Death Shift" - but I can' remember the author.

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