A former Good Samaritan University Hospital nurse has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly "slamming" a two-day-old infant face down into a bassinet.
Amanda Burke, RN, 29, was caring for the infant in the West Islip, N.Y.-based hospital's neonatal intensive care unit in February. The child's father witnessed and recorded her picking up the infant, flipping him over and roughly putting him back down in the bassinet. The child's father immediately alerted hospital staff and the nurse was sent home and fired a few hours later. The infant, now 2 months old, was not hurt.
"Upon learning of this incident, swift and immediate action was taken, including conducting an investigation and consequently terminating the individual involved," Rockville Centre, N.Y.-based Catholic Health, which owns Good Samaritan University Hospital, said in a statement emailed to Becker's Feb. 24. "Additionally, we reported the individual to the Department of Health for further review. Keeping our patients safe remains our paramount concern."
Ms. Burke surrendered to the Suffolk County Police Department on April 12 and was issued a desk appearance ticket for her arraignment on May 2. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office notified the state department of education's office of professional discipline of the investigation. However, Ms. Burke's registered nurse license has not yet been suspended, according to the attorney's office release.