Former nurse files complaint, accuses Boone Hospital Center of age discrimination

A former nurse filed a complaint against Boone Hospital Center on Wednesday after she was fired in February.

According to the complaint, Gayanna Kinkade-Bohlmeyer had been employed at the hospital since 1994.

Bohlmeyer said she always received satisfactory evaluations and was never in trouble with her employer.

Bohlymeyer said right before she was fired she was asked to do a drug screening test because there were allegations that she had come to work under the influence of some drug. The test came back negative.

Bohlymeyer said she was fired after a supervisor asked her to discharge a patient after another nurse had already filed discharge papers. Bohlymeyer said she followed protocol and crossed out the other nurse’s name and put her signature with the date and time.

The former nurse said other nurses above the age of 50 were either involuntarily fired from employment or voluntary quit due to fear of discrimination.

Bohlymeyer believed her supervisor treated her more harshly than nurses who were younger than her.

According to the complaint, Bohlymeyer said her age contributed, in whole or in part, to her being fired.

The former nurse said she has suffered because of the incident.

Bohlymeyer is asking for for compensatory damages for her lost wages, loss of employment and other benefits. She wants to be reinstated to her former position, with payment of lost wages and restoration of lost employment benefits.

The Missouri Commission on Human Rights issued Bohlymeyer a “notice for right to sue” back in September.

Bohlymeyer is requesting a trial by jury.