Thanks to WeRPN for sponsoring this episode!

We want to share an amazing opportunity for RPNs & PSWs in Ontario! Designed in partnership with the Government of Ontario, WeRPNs Bridging Educational Grant in Nursing program (aka BEGIN) is a tuition reimbursement program for eligible students enrolled in bridging programs. To learn more, go to https://begin.werpn.com/ or email [email protected] 

Trigger warning (intimate partner violence and sexual assault): the stories discussed in this episode may be triggering for some. 

In this episode, Amie and Sara talk about two very shocking stories about nurses who were brutally murdered by their partners, and the common themes between both of them. 

Story 1: Susan Chen, a nurse at Sick Kids Hospital and mother of 5, subjected to years of physical, verbal and sexual abuse, was found dead in 2019 on her bathroom floor from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Surprisingly, her killer was also a nurse.

 

Story 2: Rebecca Bliefnick, a registered nurse who was going to become a nurse practitioner and mother of 3,  whose husband is accused of her murder. She had a restraining order against her husband when was shot to death in her home. He was known for being a contestant on Family Feud, where he made misogynistic comments on the show. 

They discuss the need for stronger policies, support and protection for women who are abused by their partners. They talk about the cycle of abuse and toxic masculinity. 

If you or something you know is a victim of intimate partner violence, please reach out by talking to someone you trust. 

Related links:

MANDEL: Mom of five speaks from the grave at husband's murder trial

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/mandel-mom-of-five-speaks-from-the-grave-at-husbands-murder-trial  

A Scarborough man is on trial for the murder of his wife Susan Chen, a nurse

https://globalnews.ca/video/8920808/a-scarborough-man-is-on-trial-for-the-murder-of-his-wife-susan-chen-a-nurse  

SickKids nurse was killed in sex assault by husband, judge rules, dismissing defence’s ‘fantastic claims’

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2023/02/22/sick-kids-nurse-was-killed-in-sex-assault-by-husband-judge-rules-dismissing-defences-fantastic-claims.html?fbclid=IwAR1mqVD1Mowe1drQhM_NluwZCh2_qVVd2CnxrthzZ3qJmCBr3WXBpVm5FSs  

Illinois Nurse Allegedly Killed by Estranged Husband with Bizarre History

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls7cYRh_kNM  

Rebecca Bliefnick obituary

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/whig/name/rebecca-bliefnick-obituary?id=48787337  

Rebecca Bliefnick Gofundme

https://www.gofundme.com/f/sf6w9h-becky-bliefnick-memorial-and-support-fund 

Resources:

Government of Canada family violence resources

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/stop-family-violence/services.html 

CASW Domestic Violence Resources

https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/resources/domestic-violence-resources 

CDC Intimate Partner Violence

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/index.html