Nurse gets called out of surgery to get pink slip

Manager who summoned health worker violated protocol, Wis. clinic says

Health care videos

Health reform's hopes on 'Gang of 10'
Dec. 7: Rachel Maddow is joined by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR, to talk about the group of 10 senators who are working to on a version of a public option that can pass in Congress.

Negotiating the public option

Will the ‘Gang of 10’ help reform pass?

Will the ‘Gang of 10’ save health reform?

Finding a compromise on health reform

INTERACTIVE

Dose of reality
Do health care reform headlines leave you saying “huh?” Visit msnbc.com's guide to health reform and send us claims you'd like fact-checked.

updated 3:38 p.m. ET April 15, 2009

MADISON, Wis. - A nurse was called out of surgery so a manager could tell her she was being laid off. Dean Health said the surgery was minor and the patient wasn't affected, but the manager who summoned the nurse from surgery violated medical protocol. Dean Health spokesman Paul Pitas said the incident happened at Dean's West Clinic in Madison on Wednesday or Thursday.

Pitas said there was a period of time in which a nurse wasn't present during the procedure. He said while there were other clinical staff present, the absence of a nurse is a violation of patient care procedures.

The Madison-based health care provider announced Wednesday that it planned to "immediately" lay off 90 employees.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Pitas declined to name the employees involved or what type of surgery the nurse was attending when she was called away.

Click for related content

Bogus plastic surgeon accused of using vet tools
Medical marijuana requests climb sky high
8-inch spear removed from boy’s face