U of L dismisses nursing student over blog posts

[Gona_bea_nurse]

No, not me. Anyway what BS from a bunch off [edited] admins. I thought it was a rather creative use of language.

http://www.courier-journal.com/artic...393/1008/rss01

A student dismissed from the University of Louisville's nursing school because of her Internet postings has sued the university, alleging that it violated her First Amendment rights.


Nina Yoder, who served in the U.S. Army as a medic before she enrolled at U of L in 2007, yesterday asked a federal court judge to reinstate her. No hearing has been set on her motion.

The nursing school expelled her March 2, saying her MySpace postings "regarding patient activities and identification as a University of Louisville School of Nursing student violates the nursing honor code which you pledged to uphold," according to a copy of her dismissal letter, which was attached to the suit.

In her lawsuit, however, Yoder says no patients were identified on her MySpace page and that school officials dismissed her because of false concerns by other students that she might have had a gun.

The suit says that when she was called in for a meeting on Feb. 27, she was patted down by two campus police officers who found no weapon. And she said she's never brought one on campus.

In her blog postings, copies of which are attached to the suit, Yoder defends the right to bear arms and makes often caustic and profane observations on race, sex and religion, including diatribes against Christians and blacks.

"I do have my personal opinions, but they have absolutely nothing to do with my treatment of patients," she said in an interview yesterday.

John Drees, a spokesman for U of L, refused to discuss Yoder's dismissal.

In a statement, he said: "Student disciplinary and academic matters are by law and university policy confidential; the university takes seriously academic and disciplinary matters. There are several processes available for students who seek review of any decisions affecting their academic status."

Drees also provided a copy of the nursing school's two-page honor code, which all students are required to sign. One portion of it says: "As a representative of the School of Nursing, I pledge to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity, accountability, confidentiality, and professionalism, in all my written work, spoken words, actions and interactions with patients, families, peers and faculty."


A Philadelphia-based campus free-speech group, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, yesterday described Yoder's dismissal as part of a disturbing trend by universities to penalize students over what they say online and off campus.



"If the university really went after every nursing student who put up a controversial MySpace page, they'd have to expel a whole lot more people," said Adam Kissel, director of the individual rights program for the nonprofit group, which includes professors and policy experts from across the political spectrum.

In a letter unsuccessfully requesting reinstatement, Yoder said she thinks she was expelled in part because the associate dean of nursing, Ermalynn Kiehl, objected to the profanity and anti-religious statements on her blog. Kiehl was on vacation and couldn't be reached for comment.

"If profanity was grounds for dismissal for the School of Nursing, the nursing school would go bankrupt," Yoder wrote.

In one of her postings, Yoder describes the birth of a child to a woman whom she'd been assigned to follow as one of her assignments, though she doesn't mention any names.

After hours of labor and one last push, Yoder wrote, "Out came a wrinkly bluish creature, all Picasso-like and weird, ugly as hell ... screeching and waving its tentacles in the air. Fifteen minutes later, it turned into a pink, itty bitty baby girl."

In another passage, Yoder describes how the nursing school is in downtown Louisville, adjoining an area "inhabited by humanoids who have an IQ of 10 and whose needs and actions are basically instinctive. As in, all they do is ––––, eat, –––– and kill each other," although she added, "OK, maybe I am generalizing yet again."

Yoder's lawyer, Daniel Canon, said his client is "very outspoken and has every right to be."

In her letter seeking reinstatement, Yoder said: "What I write is a mixture of fiction and satire, aimed to be an emotional relief from daily stress. ... My political views are irrelevant to the School of Nursing."

Yoder's suit complains that while she was given a right to appeal her dismissal, which was denied, she was offered no hearing to present evidence and witnesses in her defense.

The suit also says she has maintained a grade-point average over 3.0. And in her letter requesting reinstatement, she said she has received frequent "praise for my courteousness, helpfulness and empathy" and has always treated patients in a respectful manner.

Reporter Andrew Wolfson can be reached at (502) 582-7189.

[reesern1963]

She'll probably lose. A PA student at a university was dismissed from the teaching program over MySpace activities (she posted as a "drunken pirate"). Even though she too had a stellar academic record, the school stated her MySpace activities violated the school's honor code and she was not an appropriate role model for her future students. So a precedent has been set.

Out in the working world, in most places you can be fired with or without cause.

[Gona_bea_nurse]

Nursing schools have a long tradition of being into tyrannical thought control, likely stemming from their roots in the convents.

http://www.politicsandcurrentaffairs...s-nursing.html

[OBNurseJeanne]

Since many employers check My Space and many people have not been hired because of the pictures and crap they post I doubt MS Yoder, with her "diatribes against Christians" etc and that charming description of the human beings who could very well end up under her care will ever get a nursing job if the school does reinstate her and she graduated. No wonder her peers have complained about her. What a piece of work.The first amendment does give us the right to act like mouthy A$$es but the school has the right to demand what it deems proper conduct.

Why the heck would such a small minded, unempathetic person go into nursing?

[reesern1963]

Since many employers check My Space and many people have not been hired because of the pictures and crap they post I doubt MS Yoder, with her "diatribes against Christians" etc and that charming description of the human beings who could very well end up under her care will ever get a nursing job if the school does reinstate her and she graduated. No wonder her peers have complained about her. What a piece of work.The first amendment does give us the right to act like mouthy A$$es but the school has the right to demand what it deems proper conduct.

Why the heck would such a small minded, unempathetic person go into nursing?

Agreed.

She has the right to free speech. She doesn't have the right to be a nursing student at the University of Louisiana. That's a privilege. I wish people would learn the difference between rights and privileges before they start spouting off.

FWIW, SCOTUS set limits on free speech, so little Miss Potty Mouth doesn't have the right to say whatever she wants.

[Gona_bea_nurse]

Louisville not Louisiana.

[Gona_bea_nurse]

Why the heck would such a small minded, unempathetic person go into nursing?

there be jobs in nursing. Lots in loiusville too.

[reesern1963]

How do you know this person's motivation for going into nursing? Sometimes sick people go into nursing; perhaps a potential disaster was averted in this case.

[Gona_bea_nurse]

Money is normally a good guess.

[copperrose]

I've known a few crazy nursing students who went into psych nursing. I also can't see how her opinions can't help but creep into her nursing. I once worked with a guy who got kicked out of 2 nursing schools because of his temper. He also got a questionable discharge from the Air Force for reasons not well explained to me.
It sounds like this young woman is angry at more than just nursing school. Heaven forbid she should take care of a patient that was in a category of people she didn't like. Most people who are so fiercely angry at religion had a very bad experience with one particular person or branch of faith and has so much anger that it encompasses all faiths. (In my experience) If she is lucky some part of the court ruling will have her go to counseling and help her deal with her anger. She is truly a sad person.

[Button2cute]

Hello,

I read the article; I thought to myself...it is a control issue. I believe upon her return, the school will make it extremely difficult for her. She will have to be very careful and understand she will be under a microscope until August.

Unfortunately, there are colleges and universities nursing instructors who believe they dictate every move, attitude, behavior, dress and etc. They truly believe the students are their cadets or children until graduation. They can make you or break you depending on their bonding with you.

I use to call it "boot camp" and if I have failed "no way in heck I was going to repeat the devil again."

This young lady should be true to herself and not change. But she has to watch the line of boundary and hold some of those thoughts and words in. After she passes and receive her diploma in hand than she can say whatever.

Control....OCD, Control....OCD....BIG TIME.

[reesern1963]

Until she works for an employer who can fire her with or without cause.

Behavior has consequences.

[kaleal]

Has anyone ever thought about what the relationship between blogging and reality is? Get real.

[maire]

Until she works for an employer who can fire her with or without cause.

Behavior has consequences.

My thoughts exactly. Sometimes you have to use some discretion. She can maintain this behavior if she wants to, but shouldn't be surprised if she continues to run into opposition in the "real" world. No telling where an employer would get personal info about an employee, and what they will do with that info. Now she is aware and can do as she pleases in the future, relative to her knowledge of the possibility of repercussions.

[CaliRN]

Has this next generation not read Orwell? Why would a (future) professional put these kinds of thoughts on the net for everyone to read? Does this generation think that employers are not looking at myspace, facebook, whatever? No common sense...