TEANECK, NJ — A nurse is suing Holy Name Medical Center, claiming she was fired after reporting unsafe practicesin the hospital’s labor and delivery department and was denied proper training because she is Black.
The nurse, identified in the lawsuit as J.J. under a pseudonym, filed the suit in mid-September against Holy Name, three nursing employees and department officials. She accuses them of racial discrimination and retaliation for reporting safety concerns.
J.J. has 25 years of nursing experience, including 24 years in maternal and newborn care. She was hired as a full-time registered nurse at Holy Name on Nov. 10, 2025, and fired on Dec. 9, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit says J.J. was not properly trained to use the hospital’s intravenous smart pumps, which deliver fluids and medication and sound alarms when problems arise.
Instead, she claims she was told not to worry about the alarms, to “rely on gravity” and to check IV containers to seewhether they needed replacing.
J.J. alleges those instructions put patients at risk of serious injury or death. She says she repeatedly reported what she believed were unsafe practices but was treated as a troublemaker and fired in retaliation.
The complaint also claims she was assigned different trainers, received incomplete training and was given unclear instructions about how many rounds of mother-and-baby care she was expected to complete each shift.
J.J. says she received negative feedback despite performing better than her peers and was never warned that her job was at risk or given a chance to address the alleged performance problems.
The lawsuit accuses interim nurse manager Heather Ucello of working to get J.J. fired, department educator Vanessa Leister of making working conditions difficult for Black employees and whistleblowers, and registered nurse Lillian Horvath of acting as a “mouthpiece” for the other two.
J.J. also alleges that Holy Name has a broader pattern of discrimination against Black employees, claiming white nurses received more training and support.
She says the experience damaged her professional reputation and caused nightmares, night sweats, sleep problems and other health issues. She also claims her immune deficiency disorder worsened.
The lawsuit seeks damages and legal fees under New Jersey’s whistleblower protection law and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
Holy Name spokesperson Jessica Griffin did not respond to a request for comment.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
