Nurses win big in FL state lottery

Monday, September 04, 2006 posted 02:45 AM EDT

Sixteen Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center employees apparently are $6 million richer after picking all six of Saturday's winning lottery numbers.

The employees, who have not yet been identified, purchased the only winning ticket at the 7-11 at 12100 Three Oaks Parkway in Estero.

Margaret Chabris, spokeswoman for 7-11 stores, said a regular customer picked up the winning ticket on behalf of the employees and the group is planning to speak with the media after they pick up their money.

"I think they want to pick it up pretty quickly," she said.

The winning numbers were 1-5-18-22-27-50.

Lottery officials said the ticket was a quick pick and the store will receive $15,000 for selling the top prize.

News spread like wildfire through the hospital after the winners reported for their 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift Sunday. Even patients seemed to know what had happened.

"They are hard working girls," said EKG technician Barbara Reschke.

Employees said the 16 winners all worked as nurses on the third floor's north wing, which houses a cardiac unit.

Despite the excitement, work continued as normal in that unit, where two nurses sat at the main desk discussing medication for one patient Sunday afternoon.

They declined to comment on the lottery winnings, which will net each person roughly $375,000 before taxes.

There were 98 players statewide who matched five numbers, winning $4,032 each, while 5,386 matched four numbers and won $59.50, according to the Florida Lottery.

The news came two days after employees learned Southwest Regional Medical Center and Gulf Coast Hospital were being sold by Hospital Corporation of America to Lee Memorial Health System, effective Oct. 31. Employees learned about the $535 million deal after Lee's nine member board of directors unanimously approved the purchase.

Officials have said job offers will be extended to all of HCA's hospital employees at their current rate of pay.

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