LAS VEGAS -- A neo-natal nurse who was fired by Sunrise Hospital more than 18 months ago has won her fight to get her job back.
Though she was never charged with a crime, Las Vegas police named Jessica Rice as a person of interest in a criminal investigation into equipment failures in Sunrise's NICU. One failure caused the death of a premature infant.
The 8 News NOW I-Team sat down exclusively with Rice and her former co-worker, Sharon Ochoa-Reyes, in October of 2010. Ochoa-Reyes was also named as a person of interest in the case.
The nurses believe product defects caused a string of catheter failures in the NICU, but police suspected the catheters, which carry medication and nutrition, were intentionally tampered with.
Rice explained the cloud of suspicion surrounding her had taken its toll.
"It's hard knowing that people in the community think of you as taking a kid's life, taking an infants life, as being a killer or a murderer, and you know there's no way possible you could've been that way," she said.
According to Rice's attorney, she is expected to return to work soon with back pay.
In a written statement, Sunrise says, "We respect the arbitration process and have reviewed the findings of the arbitrator. We also respect the confidentiality of personnel matters and keep them private."
A decision in Ochoa-Reyes' case is expected in the next few months.
