Kristen Gilbert: Analyzing the Serial Killer Nurse's Impact

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Sophia University *

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140

Subject

Nursing

Date

Nov 24, 2024

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Uploaded by SuperFrog212

Serial Killer Nurse: Kristen Gilbert Cynthia ayon, Andrew Diaz, alana roberts, Kasey watson

Who is Kristen Gilbert and what did she do? Kristen Heather Gilbert is an American serial killer and former nurse who was convicted of four murders and two attempted murders of patients admitted to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Northampton, Massachusetts. She induced cardiac arrest in patients by injecting their intravenous therapy bags with massive doses of epinephrine , an untraceable heart stimulant. She would then respond to the coded emergency, often resuscitating the patients herself. Although it is believed that she may have been responsible for 350 or more deaths, her only confirmed victims were Stanley Jagodowski, Henry Hudon, Kenneth Cutting, and Edward Skwira. Nurses noticed a high number of deaths on Gilbert's watch, they passed it off and jokingly called her the "Angel of Death." In 1996, however, three nurses reported their concern about an increase in cardiac arrest death and a decrease in the supply of epinephrine, and an investigation ensued. Gilbert telephoned in a bomb threat to attempt to derail the investigation. Gilbert left the hospital in 1996 due to the hospital investigation. Gilbert then checked herself into psychiatric hospitals seven times, staying between one and ten days each time. January 1998, Gilbert stood trial for calling in a bomb threat to the Northampton VAMC to retaliate against coworkers and former boyfriend James Perrault (who also worked at the hospital) for their participation in the investigation. In April 1998, Gilbert was convicted of that crime VA hospital staff members speculated that Gilbert may have been responsible for 350 or more deaths and more than 300 medical emergencies.

Case Highlights and Important Graphical Representations This graph shows the statistical data of this case. The yes portion of this table shows that Gilbert was present during the deaths of her shift. The no portion shows what deaths she was not present for during her shift. With a total of 74 deaths. The table is based on the following data which include number of days and shifts she worked. As well as number of deaths and number of deaths per shift. This table also represents the shifts with KG present, number of deaths expected, and observed number of deaths. This data was taken between 1988- 1997.

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Case Highlights and Important Graphical Representations This table on the left shows the deaths that happened in the years throughout 1988- 1997. The purple bar shows the deaths that happened at night from the hours midnight- 8 A.M. The green bar shows the deaths that happened during the day between the hours of 8AM - 4PM. The orange bar shows the deaths that happened in the evening between the hours of 4 P.M- midnight.

Hypothesis Test Between Two Population Proportions Ho: p(P) - p(NP) = 0 Ha: p(P) - p(NP) > 0 Ho - The proportion of deaths while Kristen Gilbert is present at the Veteran’s Administration hospital is equal to the proportion of deaths when she is not present. Ha - The proportion of deaths while Kristen Gilbert is present at the Veteran’s Administration hospital is greater than the proportion of deaths when she is not present. Significance Level : 0.05

P-Value & Interpretation ● Assuming that there is no difference between the proportion of deaths while Gilbert is present and not present, t he probability that the proportion of deaths while Gilbert is present is greater than when Gilbert is not present will be at least as extreme as 0.13 is <0.0001. ● Hypothesis test for a difference in two population proportions.

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The 95% Confidence Interval and It’s Interpretation - We are 95% confident that the proportion of deaths while Kristen Gilbert was present is between 0.09 and 0.17. This proportion is larger than the proportion of deaths while Kristen Gilbert was not present. - Since 0 is not within this interval, this implies that there is a difference between the two population proportions. - Overall, this means that while Kristen Gilbert was present, the proportion of deaths was larger than if she was not present.

Conclusion Since the P-value of <0.0001 is less than our significance level of 0.05, we reject the null hypothesis . The data provides convincing evidence to support that the proportion of deaths while Kristen Gilbert is present at the Veteran’s Administration hospital is greater than the proportion of deaths when she is not present. This observational study determines there is no cause and effect since it was an observation of the cases when she was on shift and not working, making this an association.