Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Lays Off 195 Employees

Administrators say the hospital is losing too much money, and jobs had to be cut. But former employees say that is little comfort.

For 20 years, Heidi Mohn worked at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center as a nurse and diabetes educator.

"My husband is a teacher and I am a nurse, so we both always thought that our job was secure," Mohn says.

Three weeks ago, administrators told Mohn she was one of the employees who would be laid off.

Mohn was given the option of a severance package or possibly another job in the system. She has not decided which one she will accept, but says the reality of losing her job still hurts.

Workers who were laid off are also being offered counseling at the Employee Assistance Program, where Linda Braswell can help them cope with letting go.

"It is a loss of income," Braswell says. "It is a loss of identity."

In all, 243 positions were eliminated at Cape Valley, but 48 of them were already vacant. A total of 10 nurses were let go. OnLine Producers: Nikki Wilson,Julie Moos