Nurse Choked and Slammed by Patient Angry Over Discharge Wait Time
A nurse at the University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky was violently attacked on April 26 while conducting routine rounds—an incident that authorities say stemmed from a patient’s frustration over hospital discharge delays.
According to a police report, 43-year-old nurse was walking past a patient’s room when she was suddenly attacked from behind. Surveillance footage reviewed by law enforcement showed the patient, identified as 35-year-old Mykeisha Johnson, placing the nurse in a chokehold, slamming her to the ground, and punching her multiple times before being pulled away.
Johnson was arrested at the scene and reportedly admitted to the assault, telling officers she was angry over the delay in her discharge and took it out on “the first person available.” She was charged with third-degree assault, second-degree wanton endangerment, second-degree strangulation, and menacing. She is currently being held on a $10,000 bond.
The nurse, whose name has not been publicly released, was treated in the hospital’s emergency department for injuries to her neck, head, back, shoulder, legs, and abdomen. According to court documents, she was in shock and unable to recall parts of the incident, though she did not lose consciousness.
In a statement, UofL Health emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for workplace violence:
“UofL Health does not tolerate any violence or abuse against its staff, patients, or visitors. LMPD has made an arrest and is handling the investigation. Our employee was treated and released.”
Workplace Violence: A Persistent Concern for Nurses
This case is not an isolated one. It reflects a broader trend across the U.S. healthcare system, where workplace violence continues to be a growing concern—particularly for nurses working in hospitals, emergency departments, and behavioral health units.
According to the American Nurses Association, one in four nurses has experienced workplace violence, a rate higher than that faced by police and correctional officers. Verbal abuse and physical assaults are common, with nurses reporting being stabbed, punched, grabbed, kicked, or verbally assaulted on the job. The problem has worsened in recent years: a 2023 survey by National Nurses United found that nearly half of hospital nurses reported an increase in workplace violence on their units in the past year, with more than two-thirds experiencing verbal threats and nearly four in ten facing physical threats
A narrative review published on PMC states that, according to Liu et al., 24% of nurses reported experiencing physical violence in the past year, while other studies and the World Health Organization (WHO) report that between 8% and 38% of nurses suffer health-care violence at some point in their careers
Dr. Lisa Pompeii, a professor and researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center, is indeed a recognized expert on workplace violence in healthcare. Her studies have documented that patient-to-worker (type II) violence is a significant and common issue for hospital workers, including nurses. For example, her research describes how healthcare workers, especially nurses, are frequently the targets of aggression from patients and visitors, and that this violence is a well-established occupational hazard in the healthcare setting.
The Impact Goes Beyond Physical Injury
While incidents like the one in Kentucky raise immediate concerns about physical safety, they also have long-term psychological impacts. Studies published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing and the American Journal of Nursing have linked workplace violence in healthcare to increased rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression among nurses.
Despite these realities, underreporting remains a challenge. Data from the American Journal of Nursing (2020) suggests that only about 30% of workplace violence incidents involving healthcare workers are formally reported. Fear of retaliation, perceived inaction by leadership, and a long-standing culture of normalization all contribute to the silence.
Preventing Violence in the Workplace
Some states have responded by passing legislation that makes it a felony to assault a healthcare worker. At the federal level, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act was reintroduced in 2023. The bill would require hospitals and healthcare employers to implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans, including training, incident tracking, and safety protocols.
Professional organizations such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) advocate for stronger prevention efforts at the institutional level. Recommendations include:
- Regular de-escalation and safety training
- Adequate staffing and security presence
- Clearly defined reporting procedures
- Installation of emergency alert systems
A Call for Cultural and Systemic Change
The Kentucky incident shows what many in healthcare already know: that nurses are increasingly vulnerable to violence on the job. Advocates argue that improving nurse safety is not only a moral imperative but a public health issue—essential to maintaining a strong, functional healthcare workforce.
Creating safer environments for nurses requires commitment at every level: from hospital administrators to policymakers to patients themselves. Nurses provide care during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Ensuring their own safety and well-being is essential to the care they are able to give in return.
If you or someone you know has experienced workplace violence in a healthcare setting, you can learn more about resources and reporting here.
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