Introduction/Day 1: The Confederate Nurses Enterprise - A Thought Experiment
Mar 14, 2026This is the number of days that have passed since the verdict in Joppy v. HCA HealthOne, the landmark case at the intersection of racism in nursing, workplace mobbing and Civil Rights.
The Plaintiff’s claim against the Defendant was filed April 22, 2022. After over three years of extended discovery, multiple hearings and pretrial motions, the trial began August 11, 2025 at the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse in US District Court of Colorado.
After five days of testimony and two days of deliberation, the nine-member jury unanimously found that Nurse DonQuenick Joppy was subjected to race discrimination and retaliation by nurse leaders while she was a staff nurse in the intensive care unit at HCA HealthOne Aurora, a for-profit four-time magnet(tm) hospital and Daisy customer.
The jury awarded five million dollars to Ms. Joppy as compensation for pain, suffering, and harm to her reputation.
They also imposed an additional fifteen million dollars in punitive damages against HCA HealthOne. Attorney Jennifer Robinson said it was “a clear indication of the egregiousness of the hospital’s conduct.”
HCA HealthOne asked the District Court to nullify the verdict and order a new trial. HealthOne says it “strongly disagrees with the verdict … and plans to appeal.” They say the trial was unfair and “... the jury’s verdict (is) excessive.”
The District Court has not yet ruled on their motion. HCA HealthOne says if they don’t prevail in US District Circuit, they will take the case to US Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
Ms Joppy has not received any of the compensation awarded by the jury.
Last year at a webinar about racism in nursing Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, ANA’s Senior Vice President for Equity and Engagement said, “Black nurses aren’t shown the same grace” as their white colleagues in matters of learning and practice. She also said that the organization is “being strategic” about the issues it chooses to address.
The enterprise hasn’t commented on the verdict in Joppy v. HCA HealthOne. They’ve never acknowledged the facts underlying the case, or even responded to direct outreach by several people over several years, which leads to the obvious question: What’s the strategy?
For now, we can only speculate. Here’s my list of ten potential reasons why the enterprise hasn’t said anything about Joppy v. HCA HealthOne:
- The enterprise is not aware of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
- The enterprise doesn’t understand the issues in Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
- The enterprise doesn’t understand the legal and historical significance of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
- The enterprise doesn’t comment about ongoing cases
- The enterprise doesn’t comment about individual cases or cases involving discipline, they only focus on issues of concern to the nursing profession
- The enterprise finds the facts of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne disquieting
- The enterprise fears Joppy v. HCA HealthOne undermines its branding
- The enterprise fears it might upset its most dominant demographic if it mentions Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
- The enterprise is aligned with the Defendant in Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
- The enterprise has a financial conflict regarding Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
I’ll explore each of these ten possible reasons over the next ten business days.
Today is Day One, so let’s get going
- The enterprise is not aware of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
Let’s eliminate this one right away.
Attorney Robinson reached out to the org shortly after filing the case in April 2022. The enterprise: a) suggested hiring one of their leaders as an expert; and b) sent a pdf copy of The National Commission to Talk About Racism in Nursing’s Foundational Report on Racism in Nursing.
In the summer of 2023 an enterprise attorney wrote to Ms Robinson. “ANA leadership and staff, as well as staff from one of our subsidiaries have recently been receiving emails from Nurse Joppy… As we consider whether and how to address Nurse Joppy’s communications, we would like to keep your perspective in mind. Also, if you have any updates that you are able to share that might relate to what is driving the recent communication or recent case developments, please let me know.”
Ms Robinson replied. “Because of the significant interest in Ms. Joppy’s racial discrimination case, all outreach and communication is being coordinated by Gerard Soucy, RN, CHPN. I am forwarding your communication to Mr. Soucy and he will be able to address your questions.”
However, the enterprise declined my follow up. “Because there is an active legal matter surrounding the pertinent events, at this time, our preference is for communication on this matter to be facilitated through attorneys. Should there be a need for additional communication with ANA on this matter, Ms. Robinson may reach out.”
The enterprise is aware of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne, as evidenced above.
Additional evidence that the enterprise is aware of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne:
Former ANA Vice President Cheryl Peterson sent an email to DonQuenick in the summer of 2023. “At its foundation, nurses must treat patients and colleagues with respect regardless of someone’s personal characteristics, values, or beliefs. This is an ethical obligation for all nurses. ANA will always support nurses’ right and duty to speak out and act through the appropriate channels…”
Also in 2023 the enterprise’s Online Journal for Issues in Nursing (OJIN) published an article that inaccurately cited Joppy v. HCA HealthOne, and subsequently had to publish a correction. “I agree that Ms. Joppy has not received enough support from the nursing profession, and I hope this is the beginning of much needed change. That change has to come with a reckoning from within on the issue of racism in nursing. For these reasons, I do not believe Ms. Joppy’s story should be compared to Ms. Vaught's. DonQuenick Joppy committed no error other than her existing as a Black woman in a white dominated profession.”
The enterprise’s continued silence is the focus of an article co-authored by sixteen nurses and educators and published in the open-source journal Health Equity. “This case study in systemic racism reveals how race shapes professional solidarity and engagement of leaders and organizations. Nurses, particularly white nurses, must confront uncomfortable truths, reckon with distrust, demand accountability, and move beyond statements to sustained, anti-racist action. Trust in nursing depends not on reputation alone but on the willingness of nurses to uphold justice.”
The enterprise’s continued silence is also noted in this recent article about Joppy v. HCA HealthOne by journalist and nurse Meg Lambrych. “At the time of writing, the ANA ignored multiple requests for comment.”
Finally, Ms Joppy visited the 2026 enterprise opportunity summit (formerly equity in nursing: a summit for change) held February 12-14. She was quickly removed by security at the enterprise’s request. “And I’m recording this, too, ANA!” (audible gasps)
The enterprise is aware of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne, as evidenced above.
Tomorrow we'll speculate: The enterprise doesn’t understand the issues in Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
