Nurse Fired for Controversial Videos

A nurse in Virginia has lost her job after posting videos where she suggested ways to “obstruct” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

On Tuesday, the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health Department announced that an investigation by VCU police is ongoing concerning the nurse’s viral video content.

“Our investigation revealed that the individuals involved in the social media video are no longer employed by VCU Health,” the hospital stated following the inquiry. “Additionally, VCU Health meets reporting requirements under Virginia law.”

VCU made it clear they prioritize the health and safety of their patients. They acknowledged being aware of the videos, which were linked to individuals identified as employees of their health system. “The content of the video is highly inappropriate and does not reflect the integrity or values of our health care system,” they added. During the investigation, the nurse is currently on leave and will not be in contact with patients.

The nurse, named Melinda Cook, had shared the videos on her TikTok account, @Redheadredemption, but later removed them. After her identity was revealed, an edited compilation of her videos was reposted by a different TikTok account.

In one of her videos, Cook encouraged people to inject ICE agents with a drug used for temporary paralysis and even suggested that women should date agents and possibly drug their food. The reposting account raised questions about how such a person could be trusted to work with patients.

In another clip, she claimed to have devised a new “disruption tactic” and encouraged other healthcare workers to inject saline or the paralysis drug. She described how neuromuscular blockers cause immediate and temporary paralysis, warning of possible side effects like muscle pain.

Cook also suggested a way to use poison ivy or poison oak to create a water gun filled with “poison ivy oak water,” recommending people aim for the agents’ faces and hands.

Further in her discussion, Cook urged single women to take action against ICE agents, describing elaborate schemes to make their lives challenging, albeit recognizing the risks involved.

In her final remarks, she even suggested hiding dead fish in the agents’ spaces as a prank, wrapping up her video with a rather troubling message to “stay toxic.”