Nurse’s license suspended with new details of abuse, neglect of 7 NICU babies
VENN
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Board of Nursing documents issued Friday contain new and highly detailed allegations of abuse and neglect of seven premature babies in the Henrico Doctors' Hospital's (HDH) neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in 2023 and 2024.
In an order issued on Friday, May 2, the Virginia Board of Nursing suspended the nursing license of former Henrico Doctors' Hospital NICU nurse Erin Strotman.
Within that order are comprehensive allegations of the abuse and neglect of babies born as early as 23 weeks and weighing as little as 11 ounces. Several of the babies had multiple fractured bones. One had bruises in the shape of fingerprints on their legs.
ALL COVERAGE: Babies injured, abused at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital’s NICU
Also in that order is a thorough accounting of how Strotman, after being placed on administrative leave following the first four babies' "unexplained fractures" in 2023, was allowed back in the NICU with little training and virtually no oversight.
Among the board's accusations against Strotman are several that are not otherwise addressed by the child abuse and neglect charges she currently faces. As of the time of reporting, she faces 12 charges in connection with five babies abused and/or neglected in 2022 and 2024.
The Virginia Board of Nursing identifies each baby in the order with a letter of the alphabet, beginning with A and ending with G. Their details are as follows:
- "Baby A," a boy born on July 29, 2023 at 31 weeks and 4 days, weighed 2 pounds and 10 ounces at birth
- Two fractures, one with a deformity
- "Baby B," a boy born on Aug. 12, 2023 at 23 weeks and 2 days, weighed 1 pound and 2 ounces at birth
- 9 fractures, as well as bruising on his chest
- "Baby C," born on Aug. 25, 2023 at 28 weeks and 6 days, weighed 3 pounds and 8 ounces at birth
- One fracture
- "Baby D," born on June 19, 2023 at 25 weeks and 3 days, weighed 2 pounds and 4 ounces at birth
- One fracture, as well as bruising in the shape of fingerprints on legs
- "Baby E," born Aug. 18, 2024 at 26 weeks and 4 days, weighed 1 pound and 5 ounces at birth
- 10 fractures
- "Baby F," born on June 27, 2024 at 23 weeks and 4 days, weighed 1 pound and 10 ounces at birth
- 5 fractures
- "Baby G," born on Aug. 26, 2024 at 23 weeks and 2 days, weighed 11 ounces at birth
- No noted fractures, but was mishandled on video
In the case of the babies injured or neglected in 2024, there is video footage that the board says depicts Strotman mishandling those three babies. Cameras were not present in NICU rooms prior to 2024.
Details on babies injured in Henrico NICU in 2023
In August and September 2023, HDH discovered four premature babies -- all with "serious health complications as a result of their preterm birth[s]" -- with "unexplained bone fractures and other injuries."
According to the board, an HDH internal investigation found that Strotman was the only nurse who had access to all four of these babies.
The first baby in the order, Baby A, was under Strotman's care during two overnight shifts on July 30 to 31, 2023 and July 31 to Aug. 1, 2023, the board said. This was during his first days of life.
On Aug. 5, 2023, a fracture to the shaft of the radius of his left arm was discovered. On Sept. 5, 2023, that fracture was found to be healing with "deformity." At the same time, a new fracture to the left arm was discovered. The latter fracture was determined to be "consistent with recent or remote trauma," according to the board.
The next baby, Baby B, was under Strotman's care during three overnight shifts on Aug. 14 to Aug. 15, 2023, Sept. 3 to 4, 2023 and Sept. 4 to 5, 2023, per the board. During that first shift, he was about two days old.
A total of 9 fractures were found on Baby B between Aug. 16 and Sept. 18, 2023. This included a fracture to his left arm, two fractures to his right arm, two fractures to his left thigh and fractures to his third, fifth, sixth and eighth ribs. Bruising was also found on his chest on Sept. 14, 2023, according to the board.
At one point, it was noted that one of the fractures to his right arm was displaced.
The third baby, Baby C, was under Strotman's care during an overnight shift on Aug. 27 to 28, 2023. They would have been about two days old at the time.
On Sept. 2, 2023, a fracture was found to Baby C's left lower leg. A pediatric orthopedist consulted at the time noted that "non-accidental trauma need[ed] to be considered."
The final baby injured in 2023, Baby D, was under Strotman's care for a total of nine overnight shifts. The first began on the day of Baby D's birth, June 19, 2023. The remaining eight span across mid-June, late July, early and mid-August and early September.
On Sept. 5, 2023, a healing fracture was "first observed" on one of Baby D's arms. It was confirmed by the pediatric orthopedist on Sept. 7, 2023, according to the board.
Baby D's mother reportedly told the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) that, on the same day the fracture was first observed, she received a call from the baby's attending physician. Per the board, said physician told Baby D's mother that they had found bruising on Baby D.
"Upon hearing the news, Baby D's mother went straight to the NICU where she saw bruising in the shape of fingerprints on both legs on the upper and lower part of Baby D's knees," the board said. "Baby D's mother confirmed that Ms. Strotman was Baby D's nurse on the evening of September 4, 2023, before the bruises and subsequent fractures were discovered."
8News previously learned that HDH failed to report the suspected abuse of these babies to the proper authorities within 24 hours of noting possible abuse. That report was not made until Sept. 21, 2023, according to the board -- two weeks after Baby D's fracture was confirmed and just under seven weeks after Baby A's first fracture was discovered.
Following an investigation, Child Protective Services (CPS) determined that all four babies were abused and that none of their injuries were accidental.
"CPS interviewed eight physicians and reported, 'The medical evidence shows these types of injuries are a result of inflicted trauma and were caused by force,'" the board said. "CPS further reported, 'there is a preponderance of evidence that the injuries were caused by an employee in the NICU at [HDH.]"
Strotman does not face any criminal charges in connection with any babies injured in 2023 as of the time of reporting.
8News continues to read through the order. Additional details on the exact nature of these babies' experiences will be provided in further updates to this article.
