The following are discussions. Please respond to each person by name.

Cierra wrote:

The scene I chose was when Danny Baldwin went to Lucille Galls, Reverend Galls sisters, house because he needed her consent to dig up the Reverends grave to do an autopsy. Danny had to explain how the hospital lab tests had shown a high amount of digoxin in the Reverends blood, but as soon as he mentioned digoxin Lucille knew what had happened, someone killed my brother she said (Graeber, 2013, pg. 159). Lucille Gall used to be an RN so she knew what digoxin was and had personally worked with it before. She was shocked then angry as she put the pieces together surrounding her brothers death. Danny had brought the numbers from the lab tests to show her what the levels of digoxin were in the Reverends blood. Right away she knew that levels that high required an autopsy which the hospital had not done (Graeber, 2013, pg. 160). Being an RN previously, she knows the process for these situations well and was angry that the hospital had not told her anything other than that her brothers death was labeled as a natural one. Danny believed that Lucilles anger would fuel her to help him and she gave her signed permission.
I chose this scene because it stood out to me the most. Lucille was angry as the detective gave her the true information regarding her brothers death but she did not direct any anger towards him, as many people in situations like so may do at first, she was instead immediately infuriated with the hospital. This scene also showed how much of a similar position the detectives were in now, as Lucille was when her brother passed. Lucille had moved along the same path the detectives had for weeks and yet the hospital had not shared the correct information with either of them (Graeber, 2013, pg 160). What I took away the most from this scene was how much the hospital withholding information had affected many people and the investigation itself. Had they been open and truthful from the start, the investigation may have started and ended a lot sooner. I would say that Charles Cullen is not the only criminal in this story.

Graeber, C. (2013). The good nurse: a true story of medicine, madness, and murder. New York: Twelve.

Kylei wrote:

Throughout reading this novel, there are many aspects that impact the way I think. For instance, the amount of victims that can be traced back to Cullen, nothing came out of it throughout his time at multiple hospitals. Officers Danny Baldwin and Tim Braun discover that Charles Cullen had a previous record. He was arrested for trespassing and harassment, and even state police called for the file a few months earlier (Graeber, 2013, 5:36). Not just the aspects of Cullen impacted my thoughts, but other characters and certain scenes did as well. Danny met with Paul Nittoly and private detective Rocco to decipher records of Somerset patients. Dr. Smith determined that four victims of Somerset can be determined as an overdose, he stated that there was no medical explanation (Graeber, 2013, 6:41). In particular, I chose the scene of the performed autopsy in Chapter 40. This scene really set in the reality of the situation and how heinous the crimes Cullen committed (suspected at the time). Danny met Bryan, a young detective at the regional medical examiner’s office so he could testify that the victim, Gall, was his pastor. Mambo, the ME conducted the autopsy, the in depth description of the embalming, sutures, mold and samples collected made me realize that the little effort Cullen put in to killing innocent people. The pastor was well nourished and had a appearance consistent with a standard age of 68 (Graeber, 2013, 6:46). This explains that he was in good standing, and as a pastor, most likely a good man. Cullen found it so easy to kill, not thinking of the repercussions or the extensive process of a possible homicide. I chose this scene because of the sadness that I felt. Unfortunately, he is just another autopsy that is being performed,but he had a whole life and it was taken away so fast.  It is a mix of peacefulness and conflict. Its a conflict because this man is unfortunately dead, but I guess this could be considered peaceful because there will be justice.

Reference

Graeber, Charles. The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder. New York: Hachette, 2013. [Audiobook]

Carol wrote:

Charlie Cullen exploited woman constantly in his personal and professional career. He was described as a charmer and someone people could like quickly. When he met his first wife Adrianne  he certainly knew how to court her. He is described as someone who would, shower her with gifts and played the model boyfriend for her family. Charlie obsessed on gaining her attention, and her affection, and he kindled its flame with constant flowers or candy, little things from the mall. (6)

After Adrianne , Charlie met and developed a relationship with  a nurse at Warren Hospital. Graeber wrote, Michelle too had a history of depression, and trouble with relationships. Michelle and Charlie bonded. Charlie was always willing to offer up another chapter of his sometimes-ridiculous life. They called it a pity party, making the joke but not knowing that was exactly what it was. (35)

Registered Nurse  Amy Loughren felt an immediate connection and friendship with Charlie, Graeber wrote, When Charlie  first started working at Somerset in  September, Amy knew almost right away that she liked the new guy. He was quiet at first. The new male nurse also seemed as serious about the job as Amy was maybe more so efficient and attentive to the point of obsession .Like many nurses, Amy saw herself as a hero defending humanitys most fragile, an advocate and facilitator for the voiceless and immobile. The new nurse struck Amy as another sensitive soul in need of defending a sad Mr. Rogers type, both drippy and depressed. behind his drugstore glasses his eyes held a darkness and desperation that Amy recognized as marked anger. (88) It took only a couple overnights together before Amy realized  that Charlie Cullen was also one of the funniest people she had ever met. At 4a.m. Charlie could make her laugh with a story that put her own crazy life in perspective. Humor and gossip provide a buffer against the suffering and grief that came with the job, and Charlie always delivered. (89)

I can understand the stress, and guilt  Amy must have felt  assisting with Charles arrest.  I am sure she had some anger and feelings  of betrayal  as well. She had developed a real friendship with Charlie.  He betrayed their friendship and her trust by not being who she thought he was and what  being a nurse stands for. Someone who takes care of people  not murders them.

Graeber, C. (2014) The Good Nurse, A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder, Hachette Book Group, New York, NY.

Amy wrote:

Amy Loughren was one of the nurses working alongside Charlie Cullen during his killing spree that was unaware of his behavior. Although she eventually found out about how Cullen obtained resources and carried out the murders of so many people, she still felt guilt knowing that she was partially responsible for his capture. This is both because of her traumatic childhood that shares similarities with Charlie’s, and her desire to protect her friend. Amy shared a story about her youth in which she took her piggy bank to the local mental health clinic and asked how many sessions the change would get her. “It had taken years of therapy to stop the guilt” (chapter 45, paragraph 11). She felt guilty going to therapy because of her abuser because the abuser was someone her family trusted, just like she trusted Charlie Cullen as a friend and a person. Amy Loughren trusted so few people, especially men, that she felt as though it was almost wrong to betray these people. Cullen’s personality of being a “weirdo” made women so vulnerable to him. During Amy’s interview, she was first very defensive when talking about Cullen and was not very accepting of his guilt in the investigation. For example, “She had always fought to defend Charlie against the bullies of the world, the unfair accusations” (chapter 45, paragraph 8). Charlie’s personality comes off as weak and innocent to others, so they may see him as a victim in many situations. This makes it difficult for the closest people to him to suspect that he is a murderer.

Reference:  Graeber, C. The Good Nurse. [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781455506125/