Nurse Attacked with Apple Juice Bottle by Patient
- A 37-year-old male patient attacked a nurse at a long-term care facility in New Jersey with an apple juice bottle.
- New Jersey law, signed in 2023, recognized attacks on healthcare workers as aggravated assault.
- The suspect, who also had other outstanding warrants, was charged and held at Ocean County Jail pending extradition to Pennsylvania.
Sadly, a patient attacking a nurse might feel like news you've heard before, but the method of assault in this case might surprise you: On December 26, 2025, a 37-year-old male patient hit a nurse at Manahawkin Health & Rehabilitation Center in Stafford Township, New Jersey, in the head with a bottle of apple juice. The incident happened around 1:15 p.m. in the afternoon following Christmas Day.
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Fortunately, the nurse's injuries were minor and didn’t require hospitalization. However, the event was still serious enough to lead to the patient’s arrest on charges of aggravated assault against a healthcare worker, primarily because New Jersey signed a law in 2023 recognizing assault on healthcare workers as criminal offenses.
The apple juice offender was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants issued by Freehold Township Municipal Court, Trenton Municipal Court, and Bucks County Superior Court in Pennsylvania. He was not identified, but is now in custody at Ocean County Jail.
Violence on the Job: The Stats Don’t Lie
An apple juice bottle incident might seem "minor," but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers experience workplace violence at rates five times higher than in other industries.
In fact, a 2022 National Nurses United (NNU) survey found that 48% of hospital nurses reported an increase in workplace violence incidents, up from 30.6% just the year before.
Why Aren’t More Nurses Reporting Violence?
The incident in New Jersey appears to have been appropriately handled and managed, ending with the attacker being charged, but unfortunately, the vast majority of incidents go unreported.
Research published in the Journal of Nursing Administration reveals that 80% of serious workplace violence incidents in healthcare settings are never reported. Why? Nurses often feel like reporting won’t lead to any real changes, or worse, they fear retaliation. It’s a lose-lose situation that leaves nurses vulnerable and unsupported.
For nurses working in rehabilitation or long-term care, this can feel especially true. These settings often involve patients dealing with dementia, mental health challenges, or substance use issues, which can escalate behaviors and put staff at risk.
It’s not uncommon to hear things like, “That’s just Mr. So-and-So. He doesn’t mean it.” But whether it’s intentional or not, violence isn’t something nurses should have to accept.
What’s Being Done—and What Needs to Happen?
Thankfully, some states are starting to take workplace violence in healthcare seriously. In New Jersey, for example, as of 2023, assaulting a healthcare worker is considered an aggravated offense with higher penalties.
Organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are pushing for more comprehensive workplace violence prevention measures. The ANA recommends strategies like:
- Improving environmental safety with physical tools like better lighting, security cameras, and alarm systems
- Implementing administrative controls, such as clear reporting procedures and adequate staffing
- Training on de-escalation and recognizing warning signs of aggression
The apple juice incident might sound absurd, but it’s part of a much bigger problem. Nurses deserve to feel safe in their workplaces, whether they’re in a hospital, a rehab center, or a long-term care facility.
So next time you’re at work, keep an eye out for each other. Advocate for better safety measures. Speak up about violence. Because at the end of the day, we’re here to care for others, not to dodge juice bottles.
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