The Runaway Bride Wants to be a Nurse!

[michael79]

I just wanted y'all's opinion on this. I am from Atlanta and the Runaway Bride was a big story here. It came out today that she has enrolled in an RN program. What do you think about someone who committed this kind of crime becoming a nurse? Interested in your responses!

[rn/writer, RN]

Her debacle occurred three years ago. A lot of maturing can take place in that amount of time. If she was indeed dealing with (or not dealing with) hyperthyroidism and/or psych issues, these may have been addressed as well.

It seems harsh to ridicule her and judge her as unworthy of a place in nursing school without knowing what she is like now. I think we can safely say that she'll be under a tremendous amount of scrutiny, from her school, from the media, and from society in general. If she can buck up under that kind of pressure and still graduate and pass NCLEX, I would welcome her into the profession.

Those who have been humbled and have learned from their mistakes have much to offer. Don't know if she falls into that category, but I think she deserves a chance to prove herself.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

As I recall, the stress of an upcoming wedding was enough to cause her to literally run away from home without warning to family and friends and when found, claimed she had been abducted. Blamed other people for her 'kidnapping', when in fact it was her own shortcomings that caused her to hit rock bottom in the responsibility department. She couldn't own up to her lack of coping even when found: it had to be someone else's fault.

For some reason, this charade went on until someone was able to prove her deception. She continued to lie until there was absolutely no way out of it any longer.

What kind of psychological damage exists in a person who would do such a thing? Is this the kind of mental damage that can be corrected, and if so....HAS it?

Let me put it this way: would you feel quite comfortable with leaving your loved one at the end of visiting hours in the hands of a nurse who is known not only to not handle stress well, but SO badly that she literally up and leaves the state when it got too hot for her?

I don't know about you, but if I wasn't wrapped tightly enough, there's PLENTY of shifts with WAY too many patients and heavy acuity that would have made someone with her psyciatric profile disappear. Poof.

If my loved one were to be assigned to her, I'd ask for a change PRONTO. No kidding. I hear those who say everyone deserves a second chance, but she's not getting that chance with MY loved ones' safety at stake, sorry.

[caliotter3]

I'm with you RNsRWe. There are far too many capable, mentally stable people who have been dismissed from nursing programs that I would trust with a family member and many more capable, mentally stable people who can't get into nursing school that I would trust with a family member before I would trust this person. Where are the second chances for these people, or the first chances? What was the admissions committee looking for? Notoriety? Media coverage? Quite frankly, I have trouble with the thought of this unstable person even being trusted with the important duties of a CNA. Her supervising nurse would always have to be wondering if she was even still in the facility, much less providing competent care. How strange that I clearly remember the required questionnaires that my references had to fill out describing their observations about my ability to handle stress, pressure, and responsibility when I applied to nursing school. None of my references would have glossed over my shortcomings had they thought I couldn't hack it.

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

i'll bet a lot of people on this site did stupid, irresponsible, and maybe illegal things in their past, but didn't make the news.

put me down for two out of three!! i think most of us have something in our lives we would rather not make the front page!!(not)