Capturing the Killer Nurse: Inside Serial Murder in US Hospitals

On November 11, 2022, Netflix released *Capturing the Killer Nurse*, a 90-minute documentary that chronicles one of America's most shocking healthcare crimes: the 16-year murder spree of registered nurse Charles Cullen.

Directed by Tim Travers Hawkins and adapted from Charles Graeber's 2013 book *The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder*, the film investigates how a single healthcare worker systematically killed patients while moving between institutions—and how systemic failures allowed him to operate unchecked.

**The Crimes and Confession**

Cullen worked in nine hospitals and one nursing home across New Jersey and Pennsylvania from 1988 to 2003. During his confession to authorities, he admitted to killing up to 40 patients; medical experts suspect the true number may be far higher, potentially making him one of history's most prolific serial killers. In a plea deal with prosecutors, Cullen was convicted of murdering 29 patients, resulting in a life sentence without parole.

The documentary reveals how Cullen exploited access to medications and patients' vulnerabilities, operating within healthcare environments designed to trust medical professionals. His ability to continue killing across multiple facilities underscores a critical gap in how hospitals report dangerous practitioners.

**Hospital Negligence and Cover-up**

A central theme of the documentary is institutional failure. Somerset Medical Center, where at least 13 patients died under Cullen's care, suspected him of endangering patients but did not report him to law enforcement or inform his future employers. The hospital's delayed response and obstruction of the investigation allowed Cullen to secure positions at other facilities, where he continued killing.