"This is an absolute witch-hunt for nursing, and nobody feels safe." A qualitative study of nurses, mental health, and the criminal prosecution of a nurse error

In March 2022, nurse RaDonda Vaught made headlines after being found guilty of two felony charges resulting from a fatal medication error. Compounded by the ease and availability of social media and speedy internet access, information regarding the public prosecution of medical errors spreads quickly. The extensive coverage of this case polarized the nursing community, prompting online discussions and generating responses from regulatory bodies. Regulatory authorities predicted this intense publicity may influence nurses not to report medication errors that they suspect could jeopardize their employment, reputation, or nursing license. This study is one of few to quantify these concerns through qualitative inquiry. The analysis of semi-structured interviews with practicing bedside nurses reveals four main themes. These are how negative disciplinary actions lead to fear of reporting medical errors, how nurses are held responsible for system failures, how real-life errors are common and inevitable, and the broader negative impact of prosecuting medical errors. These findings support that criminal prosecution and ensuing media coverage of nurse errors can have a broader negative impact on healthcare and patient safety. The current study is one of few to quantify the concerns of regulatory bodies that the publicity surrounding the prosecution would negatively impact nurses' practice and workplace mental health. Considering the impact of intense media coverage, more work is indicated to identify safe and constructive ways to handle medical mistakes that do not perpetuate fear of reporting them. Since the criminal conviction in the RaDonda Vaught case in March 2024, Kentucky became the first state to address this by enacting protections for its healthcare workers from criminal prosecution for an unintentional medical error.