UCI Health nurses distraught after layoffs, closure of pediatric units

March 28, 2026 - 09:28

The recent closure of pediatric inpatient units at UCI Health has sparked significant distress among nursing staff, with over 150 workers impacted by the resulting restructuring. The decision, described by the institution as a strategic consolidation of services, has effectively eliminated dedicated pediatric and pediatric intensive care beds at the Orange campus.

Nurses within the affected units have expressed profound emotional and professional turmoil. Many dedicated years, and in some cases decades, to building specialized expertise in pediatric care, forming deep bonds with vulnerable patients and their families. The sudden loss of this specialized work environment and the displacement from their chosen field of care has created a climate of grief, anxiety, and uncertainty about their professional futures.

While the health system has stated it is offering impacted employees opportunities to transition into other open roles within the organization, many nurses feel this does not address the core issue. They emphasize that transitioning to adult care units requires a fundamentally different skillset and represents a painful departure from their passion for serving children. The closure is seen not just as an operational change, but as the dissolution of a critical community resource and a dedicated care team, leaving a void for both the staff and the families they served.