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?
LOL. Maybe that is it...I had much more important things to think about than Clara Barton or Mary Mahoney. I appreciate knowing about leaders in nursing, but not when I am trying to study for finals! :)
First assignment in first semester in an introduction to nursing, fundamentals of nursing, foundations of nursing class----yes.
Last assignment, last semester, while you're trying to study for finals, get ready for NCLEX, try to find a job---I don't think so! I would have been writing about Genene Jones at that point, too!
I read the book about Genene Jones years ago, and it sparked my interest in true crime stories. If anyone ever checked by library record, they would probably think I'm planning some kind of horrible crime.
If I remember correctly, the admnistration at the Medical Center had pretty much figured out what Genene Jones was doing, but rather than notify authorities and face scrutiny of their facility, they simply chose to do away with LPNs in the ICU in order to get rid of her. (Of course, other LPNs needlessly lost their jobs, too.) That set the stage for her to go to work for the naive pediatrician and continue her horrendous crime spree, costing the lives of healthy children in the community.
What chaps my hide is that some of those administrators went on to have rather successful careers with big-name hospital systems.
The name of the book was "Death Shift". My boyfriend was appointed by the courts to defend her. I understand that she used a number of drugs to committ these murders. There was also a made for TV movie about it. I'm not sure if the book is still in print. If you find a copy her defense attorney was Jim Brookshire of Austin, Texas. He passed away in 2006.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I did a report on Genene Jones when I was in nursing school. We had to do a report on a famous nurse and explain her impact on nursing. Everyone else did people like Florence Nightingale and Margaret Sanger. I got an A, but they made me talk to a counselor too...
Oh my gosh this just had me laughing so hard. I am the "morbid" one of my family. In fact they all were pretty sure I was going to be a Medical Examiner when I grew up. I also was addicted to true crime stuff. In 7th grade I begged for The Zodiac book.
the book is very good. i got mine from ebay. the book really goes into detail about her childhood (pretty normal, no abuse etc) it is horrible that the hospital she worked at knew what she was doing and instead of turning her in, just eliminated her job. i always wondered about dr hollands involvement though. i mean it is kinda strange that so many kids would have respiratory distress in her office only when geneene would be working?
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Moogie
1 Article; 1,796 Posts
First assignment in first semester in an introduction to nursing, fundamentals of nursing, foundations of nursing class----yes.
Last assignment, last semester, while you're trying to study for finals, get ready for NCLEX, try to find a job---I don't think so! I would have been writing about Genene Jones at that point, too!