Three nurses at the Arkansas State Hospital have been fired and three other employees suspended following an attempted suicide at the facility last month, the state Department of Human Services said today.

A female patient at the hospital later died from injuries she sustained in the attempt, DHS said.
The agency said the disciplinary action taken Thursday resulted from preliminary findings in an investigation.

Those suspended included two mental health workers and a public safety officer. DHS did not identify the victim, nor did the agency name the affected staff pending resolution of grievance procedures for state employees.

The suicide attempt occurred Oct. 25, a Saturday, when a female patient who was being treated at the hospital following a civil commitment tried to hang herself in her room, Munsell said. The patient died the following Monday at a local hospital.

“The staff that were disciplined did not follow the incident response procedures. There is a series of protocols that are triggered when there is such an incident as this,” including CPR and reporting to emergency personnel, Munsell said, without saying specifically what the staff did wrong.

The suspended staff members will be off the job for three days without pay, Munsell said. Further disciplinary action is possible once the investigation is complete, she said.

Tags: Arkansas State Hospital, Department of Human Services, Julie Munsell

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