Nurse who mocked COVID-19 rules in video agrees to stop practicing
SALEM, Ore. – An Oregon oncology nurse who posted a video on social media showing disregard for COVID-19 restrictions has agreed to stop practicing for an unspecified amount of time.
Ashley Grames signed a consent order Monday afternoon, agreeing to leave practice until any further order from the Oregon State Board of Nursing, according to Barbara Holtry, the board’s communication manager.
Oregon nursing board officials did not specify how long Grames agreed to stop practicing, only that it will be until the board vacates the order and decides to take disciplinary action against her – or dismiss the case and allows her to resume practice.
The board’s order, which takes effect immediately, isn’t considered a disciplinary action, Holtry said.
Board officials did not comment on official reasons for issuing the order and said there was “no further investigatory information available” about the case.
Meanwhile, Grames is no longer employed by Salem Health, according to Michael Gay, a hospital spokesperson. Officials did not specify whether Grames was fired or whether she resigned, citing personnel privacy protocol.
Last month, Salem hospital officials placed Grames on leave and launched an investigation after she uploaded a TikTok video saying she doesn’t wear a mask in public outside of work, continues to travel and allows her children to have playdates.
Grames’ original post, on her account @loveiskind05, was taken down, but a “duet” recorded by another user includes the original footage. The video shows the nurse mocking her co-workers’ response to her lack of COVID-19 precautions through a lipdub of Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
The nursing board’s order does not stop Grames from practicing in other states, but the order will appear on the National Practitioner Data Banks – a web-based reporting system that prevents practitioners from moving state to state without disclosure or discovery of previous damaging performance – until the order is vacated.