Contributor – Obidigwe Adaora Victoria
The recent death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti sparked nationwide protests against ICE and President Trump’s immigration policies. Federal law enforcement agents fatally shot the 37-year-old in Minneapolis, citing him as a “domestic terrorist.”
Pretti’s tragic killing also points to something more urgent and telling. Every day, healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, put their lives on the line in extreme circumstances.
While not in the hospital or operating room, the VA employee was reportedly protecting a fellow protester from aggressive federal agents. Even outside of work, he was committed to his calling.
Sadly, many nurses who lost their lives on the job don’t make it to the national news. They remain nameless victims. What makes Alex Pretti’s story unique is that he was protesting the very institution that killed him.
From a nursing knowledge perspective, these acts of sacrifice reflect principles found in Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. The theory proposes that nursing extends beyond technical tasks and clinical interventions to encompass authentic human presence, compassion, and a commitment to preserving dignity in times of vulnerability.
To commemorate our fallen heroes, this article honors the nurses who selflessly gave their lives. Say their names!
Muthoni Nduthu
“Nurse Muthoni Nduthu, please report for duty,” were the solemn words muttered at Muthoni Nduthu’s funeral weeks after she died in a nursing home explosion.
Shortly after 2 pm on December 23, last year, a blast rocked the Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. A building partially collapsed, killing two people, including Nduthu.
The 52-year-old mom of three was at the facility and working her last shift of the year. A certified nursing assistant, Nduthu was admired for her calm demeanor and for putting patients at ease.
Her death reflects a complicated reality for many nurses. While working at the nursing home, Nduthu juggled demanding schedules, her education, and caring for her sons. At the time, she was working full-time and attending nursing school to advance her nursing education.
Hailey Okula
Hailey Okula’s death came as a sudden shock to her friends and family. The social media influencer was an ER nurse and a nurse practitioner preceptor.
Shortly after giving birth via C-section, Okula went into cardiac arrest and died from a rare complication, known as amniotic fluid embolism. To honor his late wife’s memory, Matthew Okula posted a series of “raw and unedited” videos on her Instagram page.
To her fans, she was Nurse Hailey, but Okula was also the founder of an organization that supports new nurses. Many recent graduates find entering the healthcare space overwhelming.
ClickClinicals explains that a nurse preceptor network offers expert support and a seamless, stress-free clinical placement experience. An NP preceptor basically guides nurse practitioners in the right direction.
Esther Akello
Esther Akello’s death could have been prevented. The nurse who worked in the women’s ward at a hospital in western Kenya was 36.
According to reports, Akello collapsed and died after the ambulance driver told her he had instructions to only take referral cases to the hospital. The irony is that Akello was employed by the same hospital that deferred her treatment.
When her colleagues demanded answers, the hospital administration reportedly claimed the ambulance did not have fuel.
Sarala Khadka and Areeza (Aruja) Suwal
Best friends Sarala Khadka and Areeza Suwal were inseparable for more than a decade. The Melbourne-based nurses had been out in September 2025 to celebrate Suwal’s 30th birthday.
Following the celebration, they were traveling home when they stopped on the side of the road to help an injured kangaroo. Another vehicle, unable to see them in the dark, fatally struck them.
Melbourne’s Nepalese community was left reeling. The hospital where they worked commended their dedication and compassion shown in their final moments.
Their final act of stopping to help an injured animal reflects a quality often associated with nursing itself: a deep commitment to caring. Watson’s Theory of Human Caring suggests that caring is not simply a professional responsibility but a way of being in relationship with others.
In this sense, the compassion demonstrated by Khadka and Suwal extended beyond the walls of the hospital and into their everyday lives.
Documenting the ‘Quiet Hour’
Life is fragile. We’re reminded of this every time someone close to us passes on. Nurses have to contend with this reality regularly.
Watson’s Theory of Human Caring offers a framework for understanding these moments. Rather than viewing nursing solely as the treatment of illness, the theory emphasizes being fully present with individuals during experiences of suffering, uncertainty, and death. The nurse’s presence itself can become a form of care.
Nurses are the gatekeepers of secrets, regrets, and denial. Nurse Laura M calls this “the quiet hour”. She recorded the final moments of more than 300 patients, one of them a World War II veteran. He hadn’t spoken to his brother for 40 years. His final words were: “I won the argument, but I lost a lifetime.”
Evolving Roles
Nurses are often seen as the people who ensure you get the proper meds and make you comfortable. When the lights go off, their roles take a different turn. One of the caregivers. Friends. Confidantes.
So, the next time you hear of a nurse passing under terrible circumstances, think about the countless lives they’ve touched. You may not have known them personally, but their stories matter now more than ever. Erasure is not the answer. Say their names, so they don’t become another footnote lost to history.
Collectively, these stories contribute to the ongoing development of nursing knowledge by illustrating caring as a lived practice rather than an abstract concept. The legacy of these nurses reminds us that nursing is grounded not only in clinical expertise but also in human connection, compassion, and service to others.
References
Nursology: Peggy L Chinn (2026). Nursing Voices in the US Immigrant Crisis. January 26, 2026.
Watson’s Theory and Philosophy of Human Caring/ Unitary Caring Science. Nursology. https://nursology.net/nurse-theories/watsons-theory-of-human-caring/
The Philadelphia Enquirer: Maggie Prosser (2026). Muthoni Nduthu, killed in Bristol nursing home blast, remembered as a dutiful nurse and faithful mother. January 17, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/bristol-nursing-home-explosion-nurse-muthoni-nduthu-remembered-20260117.html
NP Preceptor Finder | Nurse Practitioner Clinical Placement services. (n.d.). https://clickclinicals.com/
NBC News: Mirna Alsharif (2025). Nursing influencer Hailey Okula died of rare complication following childbirth, husband says. April 4, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nursing-influencer-hailey-okula-died-rare-complication-childbirth-husb-rcna199703
HelloCare: HelloCare Editorial Team (2025). Final act of compassion: Nurses killed while helping injured animal. September 8, 2025. https://hellocare.com.au/final-act-of-compassion-nurses-killed-while-helping-injured-animal
Everyday Health: Thomas Blake (2025) A Nurse Recorded 300 Final Breaths-And Found Only 7 Things That Truly Matter in Life. October 13, 2025. https://everydayhealthtips.substack.com/p/a-nurse-recorded-300-final-breathsand
About Obidigwe Adaora Victoria
Obidigwe Victoria is a registered cardiothoracic nurse, health educator, and content creator passionate about making health knowledge simple and practical for everyday people. She is committed to helping nurses and healthcare professionals expand beyond the bedside by building visibility, leveraging their expertise, and creating additional income streams. As a Christian speaker and mentor, she inspires growth in purpose, career, and personal development, equipping her audience to thrive both within and beyond healthcare.