While you’re certainly free to do what you want with your time away from work, what happens on social media is not necessarily free from consequences.
A nurse in Oregon has discovered that the hard way after a Tiktok of hers went viral, and it’s an unfortunate situation for many reasons.
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Ashley Grames was an oncology nurse with Salem Health in Oregon until she chose to mock the rules around COVID-19 on social media, and her post went viral.
In a TikTok video that has since been deleted, Grames, dressed in scrubs and with a stethoscope around her neck, bragged about flouting COVID-19 rules.
“When my coworkers find out I still travel, don’t wear a mask when I’m out and let my kids have play dates,” her caption read.
Before she took it down, Grames’ video received millions of views.
After users brought her post to the attention of her employer, Salem Health placed Grames on administrative leave for an official investigation.
Grames also signed an Interim Order of Consent that prevents her from practicing as a nurse until the Oregon State Board of Nurses either takes disciplinary action or vacates it, BuzzFeed News reported. An Interim Order of Consent isn’t considered discipline in itself; rather, it’s a binding document signed voluntarily by both parties.
That investigation appears to have concluded, as Salem Health confirmed that Grames no longer works there while declining to specify whether she had quit or been dismissed.
However, Grames said that she was not dismissed in a Facebook post, CNN reported .
“I would like to set the record straight, I was not terminated; I took a leave of absence,” she wrote.
Either way, the post was a step too far for Salem Health.
In a statement , Salem Health said Grames’s video “displayed cavalier disregard for the seriousness of this pandemic and her indifference towards physical distancing and masking outside of work … We also want to assure you that this one careless statement does not reflect the position of Salem Health or the hardworking and dedicated caregivers who work here.”
And it doesn’t look like Grames will be back at Salem Health anytime soon.
Grames says that she’s moving on from nursing following the incident, writing on Facebook that she’s “focusing on the next chapter” and “going back to school,” CNN reported.
Grames’s video is still available on TikTok alongside a reaction video by user @amandabutcher2 .
h/t: BuzzFeed News , CNN
