A pediatric nurse unapologetically tweeted her thoughts about white women having babies. What she wrote caused an uproar and began to go viral for all the wrong reasons. It quickly drew a lot of unwanted attention, landing her in hot water.
Taiyesha Baker, who publicly claimed to be a pediatric nurse, was thrust into the spotlight after she posted a racially charged tweet that quickly went viral. While working for Indiana University Health (IU Health), Baker went on a rant about white women raising sons, calling them a “detriment to society” and suggesting that they should be “sacrificed to wolves.”
Eventually, Baker’s words got back to her employer, one of the largest hospital systems in the nation, and they quickly took issue with what they read. The pediatric nurse, responsible for the life of children of all races who are unfortunately hospitalized, obviously held some strong and violent prejudice against Caucasians.
“Every white woman raises a detriment to society when they raise a son,” Baker’s tweet began. “Someone with the HIGHEST propensity to be a terrorist, rapist, racist, killer, and domestic violence all-star. Historically every son you had should be sacrificed to the wolves B*tch,” she furthered, posting under the account “Night Nurse,” Fox News reported.
The tweet sparked an internal investigation as Baker’s racially motivated hate went viral. The registered nurse, who was reportedly new to her position at IU Health, was eventually terminated from her job at one of their hospitals. Although the company did not disclose which facility employed Baker, they immediately released a statement saying that they were dealing with the matter.
“IU Health is aware of several troubling posts on social media which appear to be from a recently hired IU Health employee,” read IU Health’s initial statement. “Our HR department continues to investigate the situation and the authenticity of the posts. During the investigation, that employee (who does not work at Riley Hospital for Children) will have no access to patient care.”
Later, IU Health said Baker was no longer an employee. “A recently hired IU Health employee tied to troubling posts on social media this weekend is no longer an employee of IU Health,” a spokesperson for the hospital revealed in another statement just two days after Baker’s inappropriate tweet.
The comments not only outraged readers but deeply concerned them as well. Baker’s disturbing views rightfully led many to question her ability to care for white boys without discriminating against them. One man tweeted to suggest the hospital investigate to “see if any babies have mysteriously died or been injured.”
In an attempt to reassure the public, a hospital spokesperson elaborated in an email, discussing Baker’s employment with IU Health. “She was still going through orientation and wasn’t caring for patients,” the email said, adding, “She had no disciplinary issues prior to this matter.”
Although Baker’s Twitter account was shut down, someone revived the username “Night Nurse,” temporarily making a new account mocking Baker. Speaking as Baker, the anonymous user wrote, “I am an awful racist with terrible opinions and I will never go anywhere in life if I keep this up. Who needs a job anyway when you can have worldwide hatred.” The spoof account was also shut down. As for the real Baker, she has refused to speak to the media.
The genocide of children of any race is uncalled for, but it’s especially inappropriate for someone with a nursing license. Although nurses do not take the Hippocratic Oath, most make a similar vow known as the Nightingale Pledge, named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The pledge is often recited at graduation and pinning ceremonies, depending on the nursing school’s policy.
“I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous,” the pledge, reflecting a commitment to moral and ethical principles, reads in part. “I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession,” it adds. But, perhaps most importantly, it states that the nurse will be devoted “to the welfare of those committed to my care.”
Held to a Code of Ethics, nurses have an obligation to “respect the dignity of man, unrestricted by considerations of nationality, race, creed, color, or status.” Simply put, there is no place for hate, anger, stereotypes, discrimination, or marginalization in the profession. Taiyesha Baker, by her own confession, possesses neither the impartiality nor the common decency to properly care for all patients. Instead, she would like to see certain ethnicities harmed. She should lose more than her job — her license should be revoked too.
