The Nurse is a Danish true-crime miniseries that premiered on Netflix in April 2023. Spanning four episodes, it delves into the unsettling events at Nykøbing Falster Hospital, where a nurse’s suspicions lead to the exposure of a colleague’s malevolent actions.
Season 1 Recap
Episode 1: “I Will Survive”
The series opens in 2012 with Arne Herskov, an elderly man who collapses at home and is admitted to Nykøbing Falster Hospital. Despite assurances of his recovery, Arne dies unexpectedly overnight. In 2014, newly graduated nurse Pernille Kurzmann Larsen joins the hospital’s emergency department. She is mentored by the charismatic and experienced nurse Christina Aistrup Hansen, who is well-regarded by the staff. However, Pernille begins to notice alarming patterns in patient deaths during Christina’s shifts.
Episode 2: “The Confession”
Pernille’s unease grows as she observes Christina administering unprescribed medications and exhibiting a disturbing lack of empathy toward patients. Despite her concerns, the hospital administration dismisses her observations, attributing the deaths to natural causes. Determined to uncover the truth, Pernille starts documenting incidents and seeks advice from external medical professionals.
Episode 3: “The Investigation”
With mounting evidence, Pernille collaborates with Dr. Niels Lundén, who shares her suspicions about Christina. They discreetly gather data on medication discrepancies and patient records, risking their careers to protect future patients. Their findings reveal a pattern of unexplained deaths and resuscitations linked to Christina’s shifts.
Episode 4: “The Night Shift”
In the series finale, Pernille and Dr. Lundén present their evidence to the authorities, leading to Christina’s arrest. The investigation uncovers that Christina had been administering lethal doses of medication to patients, seeking attention and admiration for her resuscitation efforts. The episode concludes with Christina’s trial and conviction, bringing a sense of justice to the victims and their families.
“The Nurse” offers a chilling exploration of medical malpractice and the courage required to confront it. The series highlights the importance of vigilance and ethical responsibility within healthcare settings.
Summary
The story follows Pernille Kurzmann Larsen, a newly hired nurse, as she uncovers the troubling patterns of behavior exhibited by her mentor, Christina Aistrup Hansen. Christina, a highly charismatic and seemingly dedicated nurse, is initially seen as a hero by colleagues for her quick thinking and frequent involvement in critical situations. However, Pernille notices that many of these emergencies occur disproportionately during Christina’s shifts and often involve unexplained deaths.
Over time, Pernille begins to suspect that Christina is deliberately endangering patients to later “rescue” them, seeking attention and praise. This behavior aligns with what is known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where individuals harm others to gain sympathy or admiration for their caregiving.
Review
1. Christina’s Behavior:
- Christina’s actions stem from a need for validation and recognition. By creating life-threatening emergencies, she positions herself as a savior when attempting to revive patients.
- Her charm and professionalism mask her darker intentions, allowing her to operate unchecked for years.
- This highlights a dangerous aspect of healthcare: the assumption that medical professionals are inherently trustworthy.
2. Pernille’s Struggle:
- Pernille’s journey emphasizes the difficulty of whistleblowing in a hierarchical workplace. She faces skepticism from colleagues and risks her career to expose Christina.
- Her moral dilemma underlines the responsibility of healthcare workers to prioritize patient safety, even when it means challenging authority.
3. The System’s Failure:
- The hospital administration initially dismisses Pernille’s concerns, attributing patient deaths to natural causes or unfortunate coincidences.
- This reflects systemic issues in healthcare, where whistleblowers are often ignored, and red flags are overlooked due to professional biases or fear of reputational damage.
The Investigation and Christina’s Arrest
As Pernille collects evidence, she collaborates with Dr. Niels Lundén, who also harbors suspicions about Christina. Together, they uncover:
- Patterns of unexplained deaths linked to Christina’s shifts.
- Medication discrepancies, including unauthorized use of powerful drugs like morphine and diazepam.
Their findings lead to Christina’s arrest. During the trial, it is revealed that Christina had deliberately administered lethal doses of medication to patients. She is convicted of murder and attempted murder, exposing her as a manipulative individual who abused her position of trust.
The Ending Explained
The series concludes with Christina being brought to justice, but it also leaves viewers with lingering questions about systemic accountability:
- Could these deaths have been prevented if the hospital had acted sooner?
- How can healthcare institutions better identify and respond to red flags?
Pernille’s bravery serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the importance of speaking out, even in the face of immense personal and professional risk.
Real-Life Case
The events in The Nurse are based on the true story of Christina Aistrup Hansen, who was convicted in 2017 of killing three patients and attempting to kill another. Her case shook Denmark and raised global awareness about the potential for abuse within trusted professions.
Final Thoughts
Netflix’s The Nurse is more than just a crime drama; it is a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities within healthcare systems and the courage it takes to confront them. It emphasizes the importance of vigilance, ethical accountability, and fostering an environment where professionals feel safe raising concerns.
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