WC Wisconsin News

Former nurse RaDonda Vaught shared her story with Tomah Health staff during a Nurse’s Day event on May 7. Vaught, who previously worked as an ICU nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, recounted the incident that ended her career and resulted in the death of a patient.

The event was sponsored by Coverys Community Healthcare Foundation and hosted by Tomah Health. "We felt that during Nurse’s Week it was extremely important for us to bring RaDonda’s story to our staff," said Tomah Health Chief Clinical Officer Tracy Myhre. The presentation was attended by 65 hospital staff members in person and nearly 300 people online across the country.

Vaught's case gained national attention after she was found guilty of negligent homicide and gross neglect following a medication error in December 2017. She was sentenced to three years of probation, which will conclude later this year. Reflecting on her experience, Vaught stated, "It’s cathartic to be able to share what was largely a negative experience with the worst possible outcome at every single turn."

During her presentation, Vaught emphasized personal accountability within healthcare systems. "The takeaway here is that we are all part of a bigger system and we have to take our individual accountability to be better at it," she said.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Vaught urged healthcare workers to care for themselves as well as their patients. "I think the message for healthcare staff is that it is in our hands to be kind to ourselves and be kind to our patients," she noted.

Although her presentation focused on nurses, Vaught believes her story is relevant to all healthcare professionals. "We are all operating together... what you’re doing is playing a role in the ultimate goal, which is to take care of people when they’re at their worst," she explained.

Vaught acknowledged that she will never return to nursing but remains committed to sharing her story. "People’s lives are going to be saved because I have been given this opportunity," she remarked.