Bear Breaks Into Nursing Home — Nurses Fight It Off With a Walker and Rice Krispies
There's never a dull moment in nursing, and sometimes your shift can go from routine to wild in the blink of an eye. At Saint Andrew's Village retirement community in Pennsylvania, nurses recently encountered an unexpected guest—a 150-pound black bear! Yes, you read that right. According to local news reports, the bear crashed through a window, likely lured by the scent of dinner or maybe just curious about the residents' bingo night. The staff reacted swiftly and FOUGHT OFF THE BEAR WITH A WALKER and lured it away with Rice Krispies!
Quick Recap:
- A juvenile black bear broke into St. Andrew’s Village, a retirement community in Indiana, Pennsylvania, late at night on June 3, 2025.
- Nurses and staff took action to protect residents. They used Rice Krispies treats to lure the bear out, and at least one staff member, Charlene Elliott (a lead certified nursing assistant), told WPXI News that she "used a walker to hit the bear toward the door".
- Elliott described the scene: “Going through my mind was, ‘get the thing out of here!’ I told them all to shut the doors. Get the doors all shut!” She also said, “I was sitting there at our nurse’s station, and I heard a big crash… I got up and I’d seen it was a bear coming down the hall towards me!”
- No residents or staff were hurt, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission later set a trap and relocated the bear.
Bear-y Unusual Nursing Duties
Picture this: it's 11 PM, and you're on the night shift. Suddenly, a noise makes you think, "Not another IV alarm!” But no, it’s a bear rummaging through the halls. This is where nursing instincts kicked in—minus the bear-specific training, of course. One nursing assistant bravely grabbed a walker (talk about resourceful!) and used it to steer the bear away from the residents’ rooms. Who knew walkers could double as bear deterrents?
Nurses are prepped for medical emergencies, fires, and even storms, but bear invasions? That's a new one! Yet it highlights a key nursing principle: non-maleficence, which means not causing harm. Here, the staff put themselves in harm's way to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.
Saint Andrew's Village praised their nursing team for their quick action, which likely prevented any injuries. “We are incredibly proud of our team’s quick thinking and dedication to ensuring the safety of everyone in our community.”
Nurses, take note: the next time you're preparing for your shift, maybe pack some bear spray along with your stethoscope—just in case!
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