Book SummaryWhat the Nurses Saw, by Ken McCarthy

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of What the Nurses Saw

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses were firsthand witnesses to detrimental treatment practices and situations where healthcare institutions failed to provide sufficient care.

McCarthy's book tells the story of healthcare professionals who witnessed troubling medical practices in hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic. Driven by their commitment to their vocation and profound care for the patients' health, these healthcare professionals courageously stepped up to expose what they believed to be prevalent deficiencies within the medical system. Their accounts revealed a persistent pattern of neglect, the adoption of harmful practices, and the rejection of different methods of care, which together resulted in the avoidable deaths of numerous individuals.

Nurses witnessed patients being denied proven, effective treatments and instead given dangerous, experimental protocols

In this part of the book, the writer highlights the unsettling reality that individuals afflicted with COVID-19 underwent treatments that were in the experimental stage instead of proven, traditional medical interventions. The primary caregivers, nurses, faced a distressing trend directly, grappling with feelings of powerlessness and annoyance while they watched their patients suffer and pass away from the administered treatments.

In a variety of healthcare institutions throughout New York City and beyond, it was observed by nursing staff that there was a correlation between the increased mortality rate and the excessive reliance on intubation and ventilators for patient care.

The author, McCarthy, sheds light on a troubling observation shared by many nurses about the overuse and incorrect use of breathing assistance machines. During the initial phase of the pandemic, the nurses in New York City's intensive care units noted an alarming pattern where a considerable number of their patients needed to be placed on breathing machines and have tubes inserted to assist with respiration. Experienced nurses, including Erin Marie Olszewski and Nicole Sirotek, observed that the decision to intubate patients early on was influenced by fear and the incorrect assumption that it would contain the virus's transmission.

McCarthy emphasizes the nursing staff's legitimate concerns about the hasty implementation of intubation procedures. Ventilators, while life-saving in certain emergency situations, are incredibly invasive procedures that carry inherent risks and complications. Prolonged reliance on mechanical ventilation can damage the respiratory system, increase the risk of subsequent infections, and lead to additional complications, significantly heightening the chances of mortality. In hospitals across New York City, the nurses noted that those not subjected to early intubation had a markedly higher chance of survival compared to the 88% of patients who succumbed despite receiving mechanical ventilation.

Other Perspectives

• The nursing staff's observations, while valuable, may not account for the full range of factors that influence patient outcomes, including underlying health conditions and the timing of medical interventions.
• The pattern noted by nurses might be influenced by the specific demographics of the patient population in New York City, which may not be representative of broader trends or practices in other regions or healthcare settings.
• The assumption that intubation could help contain the virus's transmission might not have been entirely incorrect, as intubation can prevent aerosolization of the virus during respiratory support, which was a significant concern before the widespread adoption of personal protective equipment protocols.
• While nurses observed a correlation between intubation and increased mortality, correlation does not imply causation, and it is possible that the patients who were intubated were already in more severe condition, which could account for the higher mortality rate.
• The decision to use a ventilator is typically made with the understanding that the immediate threat to life outweighs the potential long-term complications that may arise from its use.
• The increased risk of infection is managed in healthcare settings with strict protocols for sterility and the use of antimicrobial strategies to minimize the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
• The use of mechanical ventilation is a standard practice in critical care for patients with acute respiratory failure, and when used appropriately, it can be a lifesaving intervention.

Hospitals barred the use of widely acknowledged remedies like ibuprofen and steroids, despite indications that they might help in reducing symptoms associated with COVID.

The book also draws attention to a concerning trend in which hospitals denied COVID-19 patients the opportunity...

What the Nurses Saw Summary Nurses who expressed opposition to contentious policies and instructions were met with suppression, retaliation, and censorship.

Nurses who voiced their concerns faced significant pushback, including efforts to silence them, retaliatory actions, and attempts to censor their views, due to their boldness in challenging the prevailing story and criticizing the concerning medical procedures they witnessed. McCarthy meticulously outlines the various strategies used to silence the opinions of healthcare workers, emphasizing the extent to which hospitals, oversight organizations, and government institutions would go to preserve conformity and suppress dissent.

Nurses facing the prospect of termination, disciplinary measures, or the revocation of their nursing licenses were those who raised concerns or objected to the detrimental treatment protocols.

The book section reveals intentional efforts to silence nurses who raised concerns about harmful treatment methods. McCarthy documents cases in which nurses, such as Erin Marie Olszewski, faced the possibility of losing their jobs, facing disciplinary measures, or having their credentials as nurses revoked for questioning or proposing alternative approaches to the orders they were given.

The author portrays a grim situation in which the healthcare system has...

What the Nurses Saw Summary Medical practitioners often carry the substantial mental and moral weight of providing treatments that may lead to adverse effects.

The book delves deeply into the intense ethical and emotional dilemmas that nurses confront when they feel compelled to administer treatments they believe to be detrimental. McCarthy recognizes the enduring psychological distress experienced by the nursing staff as they grappled with the conflict between their ethical obligations and the pressure to conform, in addition to the immediate bodily pain endured by the patients.

Many nursing professionals experienced significant ethical distress and trauma as they were compelled to provide treatments that they knew were detrimental and resulted in deaths.

McCarthy emphasizes the profound moral conflicts and emotional distress experienced by medical staff compelled to provide treatments they considered detrimental and possibly fatal. Nurses, shouldering the duty of delivering empathetic support, often found themselves trapped in a predicament that starkly clashed with their moral duties.

The book highlights the harrowing circumstances faced by healthcare professionals like Mark Bishofsky, who saw patients die alone, deprived of the chance to explore different treatment options that might have preserved their lives. Ken McCarthy...

What the Nurses Saw Summary The pandemic response was driven by economic motivations, organizational rules, and statutory requirements, all of which together undermined the sacrosanct nature of patient rights.

The author dedicates a significant portion of the book to dissecting the role of financial incentives, institutional policies, and government legislation in driving the problematic pandemic response. McCarthy delves into the intricate elements that shaped decision-making in the medical field amid the pandemic, emphasizing that the pursuit of financial gain, administrative processes, and dominance frequently took precedence over moral concerns and the autonomy of those receiving care.

Hospitals received significant financial incentives when they reported COVID cases, made use of ventilators, and administered certain drugs like remdesivir.

McCarthy reveals that the pursuit of profit led hospitals to comply with specific treatment protocols, regardless of their actual efficacy or dangers, thereby fostering the spread of harmful healthcare methods. The author meticulously outlines the various financial enticements offered to healthcare institutions, including payments for each confirmed case of COVID-19, increased funding for employing ventilators, and substantial monetary incentives for prescribing specific drugs, such as remdesivir.

The writer argues that hospitals,...