An RN was called out of surgery last week so a manager could tell her she was being laid off. "We can confirm that a registered nurse was laid off last week after being summoned from her duties during a minor procedure at West Clinic," says Dean Health System in Madison, Wis., in a prepared statement. "Therefore, there was a period of time in which an RN was not present during the procedure."

The abrupt removal came after Dean Health announced plans to "immediately" lay off 90 employees.

The physician who performed the unknown procedure in Dean’s West Clinic, an outpatient facility, says it went as expected and the patient is doing fine, according to the statement, but that the absence of an RN is a violation of medical protocol.

"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," says the statement. "Clearly there was an error in judgment on the part of the manager conducting the layoff.

Dean Health System declined to discuss the specifics of the case. "However, we can tell you we are looking into this and appropriate action will be taken."

—Dan O’Connor