Nurses sacked for refusing to work during hurricane

A Florida hospital has sacked or suspended about 25 nurses for not working during Hurricane Frances earlier this week.

Nurses at Florida Hospital-Ormond Memorial in Ormond Beach were fired for not calling in, not showing up or refusing to work, while others were suspended for not completing a shift or arriving late, said spokeswoman Desiree Paradis-Warner.

She said critical care employees are required to work during a disaster under hospital policy.

“It’s in each employee’s job description,” Paradis-Warner said. “We have to have caregivers here . ... patient safety is our number one priority.”