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Wisconsin Nurse Laid Off Mid-Surgery
The Wisconsin State Journal
April 16, 2009
A Dean Health System manager removed a nurse from a minor surgical procedure last week, in violation of medical protocol, in order to lay her off, a spokesman for the company confirmed Monday.
The abrupt removal, which spokesman Paul Pitas said posed no danger to the patient, came after the Madison-based health-care provider announced Wednesday that it planned to “immediately” lay off 90 employees.
Pitas, director of corporate communications, labeled the action “clearly … an error in judgment on the part of the manager conducting the layoff.” He declined to name the manager but described her as “an otherwise good employe with more than 30 years of nursing experience who made a regrettable decision.”
“This person is very upset and is extremely remorseful over this,” Pitas said, adding that the layoffs created “extraordinary circumstances.”
Pitas said the incident occurred at Dean’s West Clinic at 752 N. High Point Road on Wednesday or Thursday as employees were notified of the job cuts.
He declined to name the employees involved or what type of procedure the nurse was assisting in when she was summoned from her duties and terminated.
“There was a period of time in which an RN was not present during the procedure,” Pitas said. “While there were other clinical staff present, including a physician, the absence of an RN goes against established patient-care procedures at Dean Health System.”
He added that the patient, whose name is protected by patient confidentiality laws, is “doing fine.”
“We can tell you the physician who performed the procedure reports it went as expected,” he said.
clwarnoc
about 4 years ago
6 comments
I just got fired as well from a hospital after I made a stand and brought to light things that were wrong there and needed attention. Well, they did not like that, because at that hospital they like to broom things under the rug and go on with unsafe practices and sub standard care. I worked there for 7 years and saw sooooooooooo many things that I should not have seen in a hospital. But like every other hospital, the people that are making decisions have no clue what they are doing and usually have no experience with patient care. I could go on and on about this but I won't. All I will say is just make sure if you have to go to a hospital, make sure you always watch and question what they are doing, or not doing. By the way, the name of the hospital I worked at was St Vincent hospital in indianapolis, indiana
lizmags
about 4 years ago
42 comments
Could there possibly be more to this situation? It is difficult to comprehend why a member of administration would carry out this in the midst of a procedure. It is also confusing as to why a nurse would leave their patient unattended during said procedure. Sounds like an employee who is upset by a roughly carried out management decision.
emtpixie
about 4 years ago
328 comments
Wow... that's all I can say, other than it's so far past ridiculous it's sad.
JoRN
about 4 years ago
24 comments
Wow. Obviously a manager who has NO MEDICAL BACKGROUND. What idiot would remove someone to do this....IDIOT.
NERSESYANNELLI
about 4 years ago
142 comments
DO THEY REALIZE WHAT ARE THEY REALLY DOING? NURSES ALSO ARE PEOPLE! MOREOVER, THEIR JOB HAS TO BE APPRECIATED. NURSES ARE NOT TOYS FOR THIS KIND OF DIRTY PLAYS! TOO SAD...
jpaduano
about 4 years ago
2 comments
Can you believe this!!!!
Mag
about 4 years ago
2 comments
I know how it feels. I am (was) a clinical educator in the middle of a project meeting when I "got the ax" . Nurses DO get laid off
civildoc
about 4 years ago
2 comments
What's next? Laying someone off in the middle of a code?
lousue369
about 4 years ago
8 comments
Wow! Maybe after 30 years of employment...she lost her professionalism & compassion. She could have waited until after the procedure was done. I agree with everyone else. Like a 1/2 to hr. would have made a difference to "immediately dismiss 90 people". I feel bad for the patient and nurse!!
wonderingRN
about 4 years ago
2 comments
Sounds like the manager with her POOR judgement abilities should be another on the list to be cut. Maybe she has no clue about the company protocols. With her salary maybe they can keep two people who actually would take care of a patient.
cnagrad2008
about 4 years ago
2 comments
I couldn't imagine getting laid off in the middle of a sugery. They at the very least could have waited until the procedure was over and then told her but to remove her in the middle of it is wrong because it was a danger to the patient with every surgery comes risks and why put the patient through that if it can be avoidable. What would have happened if that patient for some reason crashed in the middle of the procedure and died because they were under staffed? Unacceptabe!!!
RNNP
about 4 years ago
2 comments
Thought I was feeling bad about losing my job as a nurse. I can't even begin to imagine how you felt. So sorry that jerk did that to you. Seems management doesn't consider any factors other than the budget these days. I agree w/ the person below. Should've kept the nurse and fired the horrible manager.
amb91
about 4 years ago
2 comments
Wow, some employers have no ethics, nor much in the brain department. I say that with all that is going on with companies right now, and how they "go about laying off", by just picking and choosing and no regard to how many years an employee has invested in the company, that UNIONS need to come out in full force and try to come in. Not that I am a big union fan, but with how companies are picking and choosing their employees to downsize, it simply isn't fair or right. During layoffs and downsizing.......it should be LAST ONE IN IS FIRST ONE OUT! Simple and no exceptions. If I was Cheryl in this interview, I would be afraid I would be next for the comments, not that she said anything wrong, just we all know how employers are. As far as downsizing in the medical field, I don't quite understand.....if you could of ran the business effectively with 90 less employees, why haven't they been doing this in the past, and definately the "patients/consumers" will be able to tell in the quality of services/care with this cut.
katjac2
about 4 years ago
2 comments
The Supervisor's actions were clearly a violation of Professional Standards of Safe Practice. Nursing Supervisors/ Administrators should be held to the same Professional Standards as direct care nurses. They are not. The Supervisor should be investigated by the Board of Nursing.
spitfire32708
about 4 years ago
6 comments
You would not want to work for a place that exercises such poor judgement!