A Nurse Attacked at TriStar Centennial Hospital, Woman Arrested
Nashville, Tennessee — A disturbing incident took place at TriStar Centennial Medical Center on Saturday when a woman attacked one of the hospital’s nurses.
Distress in the Emergency Room
The attacker, identified as 40-year-old Felicia Cunningham, was apprehended outside the hospital’s emergency room. She was pinned down on the street by a police officer working at the facility. Cunningham, who has a history of psychiatric problems, had come to the emergency room, claiming to be pregnant and bleeding.
Upon examination, the medical staff determined that she was not pregnant. This seemed to upset Cunningham, and she insisted on consulting a doctor. Upon refusal, she abruptly left the emergency room. The hospital staff and an officer followed her because she still had an I.V. fitted in her arm.
The Attack
According to hospital reports, the nurse approached Cunningham asking her to return to the emergency room to have the I.V. removed. Cunningham, however, made an aggressive gesture with her blood-covered hand towards the nurse. Although the nurse managed to hold Cunningham at her wrist, she successfully struck the nurse’s face with her blood-soaked hand.
The nurse told police that Cunningham didn’t stop at that. She continued assaulting her, causing evident injuries to her face.
Cunningham Detained
Cunningham was arrested by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. During the arrest, she resisted the officers and claimed to be injured. Officers also reported that Cunningham continued to act aggressively at the hospital, even spitting in an officer’s face.
She refused medical attention and was taken to MNPD booking without further incident. She was charged with nurse assault, resisting arrest, and assaulting an officer. Cunningham’s bail was set at $6,000.
Previous Assault
This is seemingly not an isolated incident involving Cunningham. She was previously arrested in May on charges of assaulting another nurse. The motivations behind both attacks remain unclear, although her psychiatric background is suspected to be a contributing factor.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
Following the incident, the injured nurse requested that Cunningham’s blood is tested — a process that is currently being carried out by Centennial Hospital. Also, the details and the context of the attack are still under investigation. Further public details about Cunningham’s psychiatric condition too remain undisclosed due to privacy regulations.
Incidents like these highlight the increasing need for proper safety measures for healthcare workers, particularly when dealing with potentially aggressive or unstable patients. Security protocols at TriStar Centennial Medical Center will likely come under scrutiny in light of this incident, and possibly be revised to prevent future occurrences.
