Fifteen nurses were abruptly fired after a hospital failed to protect a suicidal 12-year-old, igniting outrage over accountability, union retaliation claims, and the dangerous consequences of dismantling specialized psychiatric care.
Story Snapshot
- Providence Sacred Heart fired fifteen nurses after a 12-year-old patient’s suicide; union alleges retaliatory action.
- Hospital had closed its adolescent psychiatric unit prior, forcing vulnerable patients into less secure pediatric rooms.
- Family lawsuit accuses hospital of removing safety measures and neglecting supervision protocols.
- Department of Health investigation and public scrutiny highlight systemic failures in pediatric psychiatric care.
Hospital’s Removal of Safety Measures Preceded Tragedy
Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Washington, drew national attention after the suicide of Sarah Niyimbona, a 12-year-old with a documented history of self-harm. In the months leading up to Sarah’s death, the hospital shuttered its dedicated adolescent psychiatric unit, citing financial pressures. This forced high-risk patients into general pediatric rooms that lacked vital safety features such as door alarms, sitters, and video monitors. The removal of these measures occurred despite clear warnings from staff and advocates about increased risks, raising serious concerns about institutional priorities and patient safety.
Hospital administrators fired fifteen nurses and disciplined another after Sarah left her room unsupervised and died by suicide on April 13, 2025. The nurses’ union, the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), immediately condemned the firings as retaliatory, arguing that management targeted staff collectively rather than investigating individual responsibility. The union claims the hospital’s actions are designed to deflect blame from administrative decisions—including the psychiatric unit’s closure and the removal of safety protocols—rather than address root causes within hospital leadership and policy.
Family Lawsuit and Union Response Highlight Systemic Failures
Sarah’s family responded to the tragedy with a lawsuit alleging negligence and dangerous cost-cutting. They argue that the hospital knowingly stripped away safeguards for a patient with a clear history of suicide attempts, directly contributing to her death. The Department of Health launched its own investigation, confirming that the hospital endangered other suicidal patients by failing to maintain adequate protocols and supervision. Disability Rights Washington, an advocacy group, described the removal of sitters and lack of monitoring as “very concerning,” and called for systemic reform in pediatric psychiatric care.
The WSNA has mobilized public support, filing grievances and drawing attention to what they describe as a pattern of scapegoating frontline staff while hospital executives evade accountability. Staff who warned about risks after the psychiatric unit’s closure felt ignored, and experts argue that moving psychiatric patients into general rooms without specialized training or infrastructure is a grave mistake. The union’s stance is echoed by former psychiatric nurses and mental health advocates, who insist that these decisions reflect broader trends of prioritizing budgets over community and patient safety.
Broader Implications: Labor Dispute and National Mental Health Crisis
The fallout from the incident extends beyond Sacred Heart, as hospitals nationwide grapple with financial constraints and growing pediatric mental health needs. The mass firing has disrupted staffing and pediatric care at the hospital, further destabilizing an already strained system. Regulatory investigations, legal battles, and union activism are driving increased scrutiny of hospital management, safety protocols, and labor relations. The case has fueled political pressure for reform, with calls for restored funding, dedicated psychiatric units, and improved safety standards for vulnerable youth.
Sarah’s death and the subsequent firings have eroded public trust in hospital safety and exposed critical gaps in pediatric psychiatric care. The incident highlights the urgent need for transparent accountability, adequate resources, and common-sense policies that protect both staff and patients. As legal and regulatory actions move forward, the conservative community remains vigilant about defending family values, demanding responsible stewardship of healthcare institutions, and pushing back against policies that endanger children and undermine the integrity of frontline workers.
Sources:
A 12-year-old killed herself at a Spokane hospital that recently closed its youth psychiatric unit
Failing Sarah: How a 12-year-old girl ended her own life at a Spokane hospital
Spokane hospital where 12-year-old died endangered other suicidal patients, investigators find
Providence nurses fired: Retaliation, WSNA claims
