Nurse Julie Griffin blew the whistle on unsafe staffing levels at the HCA Westside Regional Medical Center in Plantation, Florida.
From January 2017 through July, 2017, Nurse Julie Griffin worked as an RN on the cardiovascular ICU at the Westside Regional Medical Center. Over a 6-month period, Ms. Griffin registered concerns over the hospital’s requirement for nurses to manage 3 ICU patients simultaneously. Caring for 3 patients was particularly untenable because the hospital’s computer software and monitors were incapable of monitoring 3 patients simultaneously. Ms. Griffin was aware of two patient deaths under these circumstances. That knowledge compelled her to persist in her efforts. She believed it was her professional responsibility to speak up to safeguard all her patients. The last straw occurred when she refused to accept 3 patients when another nurse had only 1 patient. She was terminated.
Under the Florida Whistle-Blower Act, Ms. Griffin filed a civil action in Broward County back in 2018. The trial date is set for February 21, 2023 at the Broward County Courthouse in Ft. Lauderdale. This will be the first trial in Florida for a jury to learn why a nurse refused an assignment that she believed posed a risk to patient safety and failed to comply with federal regulations.
Hospital Watchdog is proud to stand with Julie as she fights for patient safety and her rights as a healthcare professional. Nurses are often placed in difficult circumstances when it comes to staffing levels. It’s vital that they are supported as they speak up.
We encourage the public to attend this trial and offer support for Julie. This case has the potential to set a precedent for Florida.
Here is a link to read the full story (2019) of Julie Griffin’s experience at Westside Regional Medical Center.
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