Unveiling the Chilling Tale Behind Netflix's The Nurse (2023) Miniseries

Summary

"The Nurse" is a chilling Netflix miniseries based on the true story of nurse Christina Aistrup Hansen, who was accused of horrific crimes.

Pernille Kurzmann, a young nurse, becomes suspicious of her partner Hansen and begins to uncover a sinister secret involving the harm and death of patients. Despite Hansen being popular among coworkers, doubts about their achievements had been raised in the past, yet it is Kurzmann who finally grasps the significance of the peculiar events.

Set in Denmark, The Nurse (2023) is a gripping miniseries exclusive to Netflix. Inspired by actual events, it delves into the unsettling case of Christina Aistrup Hansen, a nurse accused of committing heinous crimes. The show premiered on April 27, 2023, with all four episodes being released simultaneously. As the plot unfolds, audiences are introduced to Pernille Kurzmann (played by Fanny Louise Bernth), a newly graduated nurse who joins Nykøbing Falster Hospital in 2014. There, she encounters the experienced veteran nurse Hansen (portrayed by Josephine Park). Initially, Kurzmann finds solace in working alongside the seemingly competent Hansen. However, as time progresses, she begins to suspect that her colleague may be hiding a sinister secret.

The subsequent events that unfold are so astonishing that they almost defy belief. Kurzmann and her colleagues in the emergency room gradually uncover evidence suggesting that Hansen is responsible for inflicting harm upon the very patients she purportedly tried to save, with some even losing their lives. This series, with its chilling tone and understated performances, amplifies the real-life story into a captivating narrative. While The Nurse largely stays true to the factual accounts, certain aspects have been altered for dramatic effect. Yet, the actual events surrounding this hospital are equally captivating in their own right.

The Nurse Is Based On A True Story

The Nurse (2023) is a fictionalized account of actual events that transpired at a Danish hospital in the 2010s. Drawing heavily from The Nurse: The True Story Behind One of Scandinavia’s Most Notorious Criminal Trials, an investigative book by Kristian Corfixen published in 2022, this series delves into the story of Hansen. Corfixen's book incorporates interviews with individuals who were present during the events, as well as details about the court case and its aftermath. With the revelations of Hansen's crimes, the book gained immense popularity, prompting Netflix to announce its dramatic adaptation in March 2023 (via Netflix).

Christina Aistrup Hansen And Pernille Kurzmann Worked Night Shifts

Upon her arrival at Nykøbing Falster Hospital, Kurzmann was immediately assigned to the graveyard shift, working alongside Hansen. Throughout their time on this shift, they found themselves faced with an unexpected surge of critical emergencies, in which patients' conditions rapidly declined despite not displaying any previous signs of deteriorating health. Initially, Kurzmann admired Hansen's seemingly innate ability to be present at the scene of such emergencies and was in awe of her composed demeanor. However, as time went on, the young nurse began to question the authenticity of Hansen's heroic acts and pondered why a significant number of her previously healthy patients would suddenly experience a drastic decline in their well-being.

Hansen Was Well Liked By Her Coworkers

One of the reasons for the delayed disclosure of Hansen's actions was her popularity among the hospital staff, according to Nordic Watchlist. The majority of colleagues perceived Hansen as kind, polite, intelligent, and a skilled nurse who consistently saved patients from dying. Her charm and exceptional abilities overshadowed the fact that several patients experienced unexpected emergencies or even died overnight.

Other Doctors And Nurses Had Their Suspicions About Hansen

Despite Hansen's popularity among most doctors and nurses in the hospital, there were numerous individuals who harbored suspicions about her "achievements" throughout her career. Corfixen's book also criticizes the prevalent culture of trust and concealment that frequently engulfs medical institutions and caregivers. It is this very culture that enabled Hansen to continue practicing for an extended period despite the fact that many of her colleagues found it peculiar at best and alarming at worst that her patients' health often deteriorated rapidly. Only someone new like Kurzmann could recognize the highly unusual nature of what she observed.

Hansen Used A Combination Of Morphine And Diazepam On Her Patients

At that Denmark hospital, a sinister situation unfolded. Hansen, a healthcare professional, intentionally administered excessive doses of morphine and diazepam to her patients. Normally used for pain relief and anxiety reduction, these drugs can have severe consequences if improperly used, such as respiratory failure and comas. Hansen would deliberately overdose her patients, only to return and attempt to revive them, as if playing the hero. Unfortunately, her actions often resulted in the patients' deaths, despite her knowledge of the impending overdose. Hansen recklessly toyed with her patients' lives, disregarding the fact that many of them were not in danger of dying prior to her intervention.

During Hansen's Trial, The Prosecution Said Her Crimes Were Linked To A Histrionic Personality Disorder

In 2015, Kurzmann alerted the police about her suspicions regarding Hansen. Other medical professionals quickly corroborated Kurzmann's account, leading to Hansen being accused of multiple crimes, including murder. The victims named were Viggo Holm Petersen, Anna Lise Poulsen, and Arne Herskov, with an attempted murder charge against Maggi Margrethe Rasmussen as well. Hansen faced the possibility of a life sentence. The prosecution argued that Hansen had a "histrionic personality disorder," a condition defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a form of borderline personality disorder.

This disorder is characterized by traits such as "superficiality," "egocentricity," and a continual search for excitement in life, as reported by the Manchester Evening News. Prosecutor Michael Boelsen presented these arguments, resulting in a guilty verdict. However, Hansen's sentence was later reduced to 12 years due to the inability to conclusively determine if other factors contributed to her patients' deaths.

Where Are Christina Aistrup Hansen And Pernille Kurzmann Now?

Hansen is scheduled for release from prison in 2028, but has willingly shared her story from behind bars. Corfixen had the opportunity to interview Hansen for her book, where the author reveals that the nurse continues to assert her innocence and refuses to accept the judgment imposed on her. While many of the ER nurses at Nykøbing Falster Hospital have moved on to other jobs, Kurzmann is still there. This nurse, who uncovered Hansen's crimes, goes by the name Pernille Kurzmann Lundén after marrying her boyfriend Nils Lunden, portrayed by Alec Newman in The Nurse (2023).