Sarah Kuteh A Christian Nurse Wins Two-Year Battle for Her Job After Being Sacked for Telling Someone About Jesus

A nurse sacked from a hospital and then placed under restrictions for imposing her religious beliefs on patients has been told she is fully fit to practice.Sarah Kuteh was dismissed from Darent Valley Hospital in Kent two years ago after giving her Bible to a patient.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said it was now in the public interest for her to return to practice. Ms Kuteh told BBC South East she was absolutely elated at the decision because nursing was her passion. She said: “I didn’t expect to be sacked so I was shocked. This means so much to me because I can go back to the profession I love.”

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said it was pleased she could continue her career as a nurse unrestricted.

Patients’ faiths

It said her case had never been about religion and she was dismissed for gross misconduct after she was made aware of several complaints from patients and asked to refrain from preaching to them. “We took no satisfaction in having dismissed Sarah but must always act in the best interests of our patients and in accordance with professional codes of conduct,” a statement said.

Sarah Kuteh says there was a pre-op assessment questionnaire she had to go over with patients and asking about their faith was part of it. She says from time-to-time this would lead her to conversations about faith with her patients. In one case, she even gave a patient her Bible. She was surprised to learn about the initial complaints but once she did, she said she decided she would only share her faith in Jesus if a patient asked her about it.

However, the15-year veteran nurse and mother of three who had worked at the hospital in Dartford from 2007 and had 15 years of nursing experience received additional complaints against her, was suspended and later fired August 2016

“I was walked out of that hospital after all I had done during all my years as a nurse and I was told I couldn’t even speak to any of my colleagues,” she said in a Christian Concern interview. “All I had done was to nurse and care for patients. How could it ever be harmful to tell someone about Jesus?” she asked.

The Christian Legal Centre represented Sarah in her appeal to be reinstated to full nursing rights and privileges.

Their chief executive, Andrea Williams, said if it weren’t for the pre-op question about faith, these conversations with patients would not have happened.

“Without proper investigation, she was fired and her long career as a nurse put under threat,” Williams said.

Kuteh was able to find work at a nursing home but was under certain restrictions imposed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and could work only under the supervision of a senior nurse.

Watch Sarah’s Story here

When the NMC reviewed Sarah’s case and request to return to full rights as a nurse she had many character witnesses.

Christian Concern reports Sarah’s supervisor had lots of good things to say about her. She was described as “a kind, caring, honest, friendly nurse” and was also considered a “valuable member of the team. A co-worker told the NMC panel that she was “respectful” and “always acts professionally while on duty.”

At her hearing, Sarah said she should have given a Bible from the hospital chaplaincy to a patient instead of one of her own. nThe panel eventually ruled: “It is in the public interest to return an otherwise experienced and competent nurse into practice.”