Coralville nursing home workers: Former director threatened their jobs if they reported problems

Four nursing employees at the Windmill Manor nursing home in Coralville testified today that the facility's former director of nursing threatened to fire them if they reported issues or problems to the state.

The employees said Karen Etter told them in May 2009 that if they violated the policy of reporting abuse, any issue or problems to the state, instead of reporting to her or another supervisor first, they could be fired.

Etter is charged with a misdemeanor offense of attempting to impede or interfere with a representative from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.

The nursing employees and an inspector with the Department of Inspections and Appeals testified during the trial. Etter represented herself.

Johnson County Magistrate Karen Egerton said she would take the case under advisement and file a written ruling next week.

Criminal charges were filed against Etter after state and federal authorities levied more than $92,000 in fines on the nursing home after staff members were accused of covering up the sexual abuse of an elderly resident.

According to state records, in 2008, a male resident was found having sex with a female resident who had Alzheimer's disease. State regulators said because of the woman's illness, she could not have given informed consent to sex.

Lindsey Harris, a nurse at Windmill Manor, said Etter made threats to the staff members during Nurses Appreciation Week in May 2009. Etter told employees they would be fired if they reported complaints or issues to the state.

“I think it was an unprofessional way to say go her first with your issues,” Harris said. “I don't believe she would have fired me.”

Harris said she doesn't remember any pending issues or existing complaints with the state at that time.

On cross examination, Etter asked Harris to describe the nursing home's policy.

Harris said the policy is to report any issues or abuses to a direct supervisor and the supervisor would then report to the state.

Pauline Lint, nursing assistant, testified she felt threatened by Etter's remarks and would go to work “wondering if you had a job.” Etter also warned employees that she had a stack of applicants to take their place if they couldn't follow the rules.

Bill Cook, an investigator with the Department of Inspection and Appeals, testified that after interviewing several employees, he thought they had been threatened with their jobs if they reported to the state and Etter admitted to him that she had made those statements.

Cook said it's important that employees feel that they can report problems or abuses to the state, because that's the only way it can be investigated and action can be taken.

Etter asked Cook if she had interfered with his investigation, and he said she hadn't.

None of the employees testifying said anything about the sexual abuse that occurred in 2008 or said Etter's remarks were connected to that incident.

The charge against Etter is a simple misdemeanor, which carries up to a $625 fine, but the violation could have an additional penalty, said  Jacolyn Meirick, a legal intern with the Johnson County Attorney's Office.