Pauline Kirk v. Mercy Hospital Tri-County

Pauline Kirk (hereinafter Plaintiff) appeals from the circuit court's judgment which sustained a Motion for Summary Judgment
filed by Defendant Mercy Hospital Tri-County (hereinafter Hospital). 1 Seeking reversal, Plaintiff's single point contends
the trial court erroneously interpreted (a) the law in concluding "Missouri's public doctrine is too narrowly defined to allow
a true public policy exception to the employment-at-will doctrine," and (b) the law and facts in concluding there is "no clear
mandate in law or regulation prohibiting the actions of the of which the complained; namely, discharge as a nurse." We
agree with Plaintiff and for reasons which follow reverse and remand. Plaintiff, a registered nurse, started working on a part-time basis for the Hospital on December 24, 1982. On July 12, 1983,
Plaintiff was employed full time as a charge nurse with the duty to supervise other nurses and assistants on the ward during
her shift. In this capacity, she reported directly to Norma Sellers, the Hospital's Director of Nursing.