Nurses fired after filming video criticising maternity patients at hospital

Nurses at a US hospital have been fired after posting a 'disrespectful and unprofessional' video mocking patients at their maternity ward.

The TikTok video saw a number of nurses from Emory University Hospital, Atlanta jumping on the 'ick' challenge by listing out things that bothered them about patients that came in to see them.

You can watch the video here:

In the #IckChallenge video, one nurse says: "My ick is when you ask how much the baby weighs and it's still in your hands."

Another adds: "Saying you don't want any pain medicine, no epidural, but you are at an 8 out of 10 pain."

And a third, rolling her eyes, tells the camera: "It's the unlimited trips to the nurses station for me."

The original video was quickly taken down after it sparked mass-outrage from viewers, but the internet is too quick, and soon it was re-posted by devastated TikTok users.

Of course, going through pregnancy for the first time is an exciting and terrifying moment for any new parents, so to hear nurses mock their questions and mistakes was heartbreaking to hear.

Reacting to the heartless video, one disappointed viewer wrote: "They clearly don't have the right mindset to be in the field they're in."

Another asked: "Do they think we give birth everyday and it is something so casual? New mothers will of course ask a lot of questions."

And a third jibed: "My ick is when nurses are heartless during the happiest time of a family and / or woman's life. This is so disheartening."

Soon after the video went viral, Emory University Hospital issued a statement, assuring those concerned that they had 'taken appropriate actions' and the employees who appeared in the video no longer worked in the ward.

"Emory Healthcare is committed to providing empathetic, high-quality care to our community, and our patients come first", the statement began.

"We are aware of a TikTok video that included disrespectful and unprofessional comments about maternity patients at Emory University Hospital Midtown. We have investigated the situation and taken appropriate actions with the former employees responsible for the video.

"This video does not represent our commitment to patient and family-centred care and falls far short of the values and standards we expect every member of our team to hold and demonstrate.

"At no time should our patients ever feel they are not being treated with care and respect. Every patient at Emory Healthcare deserves to be cared for by a compassionate, experienced team in a comfortable and safe environment."