Day 2: The Confederate Nurses Enterprise - A Thought Experiment

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 their strategy? 

We can only speculate, so I developed a list of ten potential reasons why the enterprise hasn’t said anything about Joppy v. HCA HealthOne. I’m exploring each of these ten possible reasons over ten business days. 

Yesterday, evidence proved that the enterprise is indeed well aware of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne, so that cannot be a reason why the enterprise hasn’t commented on or amplified the case.

1. The enterprise is not aware of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne 
2. The enterprise doesn’t understand the issues in Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
3. The enterprise doesn’t understand the legal and historical significance of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne 
4. The enterprise doesn’t comment about ongoing cases 
5. The enterprise doesn’t comment about individual cases or cases involving discipline, they only focus on issues of concern to the nursing profession
6. The enterprise finds the facts of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne disquieting
7. The enterprise fears Joppy v. HCA HealthOne undermines its branding
8. The enterprise fears it might upset its most dominant demographic if it mentions Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
9. The enterprise is aligned with the Defendant in Joppy v. HCA HealthOne
10. The enterprise has a financial conflict regarding Joppy v. HCA HealthOne

Today is Day Two

2. The enterprise doesn’t understand the issues in Joppy v. HCA HealthOne, i.e. racism in nursing and workplace mobbing

There’s evidence that the enterprise is aware of racism in nursing - it once even acknowledged its own harmful actions and asked for forgiveness. 

Awareness isn’t the same as understanding, as Rev Al Sharpton emphasized in this interview with ANA Vice President for Nursing Programs Cheryl Peterson. “With forgiveness also comes accountability. And I don't wanna minimize the untold impact and effects that this could have had and I know has had on families down through the decades. You can always ask for forgiveness, but you also must be accountable for the damage done. Cheryl Peterson, thank you for coming on and reading your answers to me tonight.”

The enterprise also recently updated its position statement on dangerous behaviors in the workplace that target and harm nurses. “ANA’s Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements details that nurses are required to “create an ethical environment and culture of civility and kindness, treating colleagues, coworkers, employees, students, and others with dignity and respect” (ANA, 2025). Thus, the nursing profession will not tolerate violence of any kind, including physical, verbal, or sexual from any source.”

The magnet(tm) program is the enterprise’s single largest source of revenue, and the org recently revised the program’s requirements. “The Commission on Magnet Recognition further integrated structures and processes involving DEI into the 2023 Magnet® Application Manual to emphasize the importance of organizations' enculturation of these initiatives as a part of the mission and vision. This Magnet Perspectives column reviews the organizational overview items and sources of evidence addressing DEI in the 2023 Magnet Application Manual and offers resources for nursing leadership.”

The enterprise may not fully understand the issues in Joppy v. HCA HealthOne, i.e. racism in nursing and workplace mobbing, but at least it’s aware, as evidenced above.

Tomorrow’s speculation: The enterprise doesn’t understand the legal and historical significance of Joppy v. HCA HealthOne