A Iowa hospital nurse has been fired from her job after she was seen flossing her teeth over a patient in a viral video.
The unidentified employee was filmed performing dental care while standing over patient Cole ‘Tiny’ Cross who was being treated at Ottumwa Regional Health Center over Christmas for congenital heart disease.
In a Facebook video shared by friend Joe Bainbridge, the now-terminated nurse can be seen cleaning her teeth as Cross attempts to grab her attention by reaching out to her.
The video, which has garnered nearly 1000 shares and 500 likes, has left many viewers raging over the incident.
‘This is bizarre!!! There’s something not right with this lady and to think she has someone’s life literally in her hands is scary . completely unsanitary and leaning that close to him while wiping her spit on her hands is unacceptable,’ one commented.
While another added: ‘Somebody needs to go the Administrators Office and tell them he needs transferred. I would then call The Iowa Inspections and appeals….. and the other agencies listed below that investigate Hospital neglect or abuse.’
‘Omg….that’s pretty disgusting behavior. Praying for this poor fella,’ one Facebook-er simply said.
Another demanded: ‘Yeah hellll no. I hope she is reprimanded for her actions. Not acceptable. And he is clearly raising his hand to get her attention and she just carries on by flossing her teeth. Unacceptable!!’
A Iowa hospital nurse has been fired from her job after she was seen flossing her teeth over a patient in a viral video
‘How unsanitary!!! Especially with how much sickness is going around and she has her hands in her mouth dealing with sick patients is UNHINGED!!,’ another added.
Since the incident, the hospital issued a statement and stated they had a ‘zero-tolerance policy’.
‘Ottumwa Regional Health Center has a zero-tolerance policy for actions that don’t align with our core values.
‘As soon as this unacceptable behavior was flagged for us early last week, we addressed it, immediately suspending and then terminating the employment of the staff member involved.
‘This one incident is not a reflection of the dedication of our team or the great care we provide our community each day.
‘We encourage anyone who sees something like this to speak up and report it so we can resolve it as quickly as possible, ensuring the health and safety of our patients and learning from it,’ the hospital system stated.
Cross was released from MercyOne in Des Moines on January 6, 2025.
It remains unclear if legal action will be taken against the hospital and nurse.
The unidentified employee was reportedly performing dental care while standing over patient Cole ‘Tiny’ Cross who was being treated at Ottumwa Regional Health Center over Christmas for congenital heart disease
Since the incident, the hospital issued a statement and stated they had a ‘zero-tolerance policy’
In a Facebook video shared by friend Joe Bainbridge, the now-terminated nurse can be seen cleaning her teeth as Cross attempts to grab her attention by reaching out to her
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center for a comment.
This comes nearly a year after a Long Island nurse who was caught on video picking up an infant and slamming him face down into his bassinet was cleared of all charges.
Amanda Burke was charged with endangering the welfare of a child at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip in April 2023.
Her trial was scheduled to begin in March 2024, but a judge granted the defense motion to dismiss after the prosecution revealed their medical expert said it was unlikely that Burke injured the baby.
A letter obtained by the local newspaper said the state Education Department’s Office of Professional Discipline found Burke’s actions ‘did not constitute professional misconduct’ and classified it as ‘simple negligence’ in June.
Burke’s attorney, Robert Gottlieb, told DailyMail.com his client is grateful the charges have been dismissed but claimed the decision came far too late.
