Fairview Southdale fires 14 nurse anesthetists

Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minn. fired 14 of their nurse anesthetists Thursday for abusing the hospital’s educational reimbursement program.

Sources told Fox 9 the employees were buying textbooks for their graduate level courses and receiving reimbursement from the hospital. But they are accused of sending the books back to the publishers and pocketing the refunds. The textbooks can cost as much as $500 each, which means Fairview could be out as much as $70,000.

The 14 fired employees make up a quarter of the nurse anesthetist staff at Fairview.

Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists statement

On July 9, 2015, 14 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) were dismissed from Fairview Southdale with allegations of misuse of education monies. The Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA) does not condone the alleged actions of the CRNAs terminated by Fairview Southdale. 

Our members complete a rigorous and extensive graduate program to become CRNAs because they want to serve others and do something meaningful in their careers. These Fairview CRNAs likely shared the same ideals and intentions. But now it appears the poor judgment of these otherwise talented and well-educated CRNAs jeopardizes what they set out to achieve.

This is a tragedy for all involved, but MANA expects all CRNAs to maintain the highest standards of integrity, discretion, and professionalism. Our patients rely on it, and we should accept nothing less of ourselves.

MANA expects that Fairview Healthcare System would not have taken this action without thoroughly and carefully evaluating the situation. We support its initiative to promote integrity in its educational reimbursement program. 

Kathryn White, DNP, RN, CRNA
MANA President