Patient chokes nurse because her discharge was taking too long, Kentucky cops say

A hospital nurse was attacked from behind by a patient who was “angry” about her discharge time, Kentucky authorities say.

The University of Louisville Hospital nurse suffered injuries throughout her body in the April 26 incident, according to police.

Officers said the 43-year-old nurse was conducting rounds when she passed the room of Mykeisha Johnson.

Surveillance footage showed Johnson, 35, came behind the nurse and choked her, then slammed her to the ground, according to the police citation.

The patient began to punch the nurse in her face and the rest of her body before being pulled off, authorities say.

Police said Johnson was taken into custody and admitted to the attack, but she said the nurse did not do anything to provoke her.

“Johnson said that she was angry that the staff were taking too long to discharge her from the hospital so she ... assaulted the first person available,” according to police.

The nurse was taken to the emergency room, where she complained of pain to her “neck, back of her head, left leg, abdomen, upper back and left shoulder,” police said. She also had sore legs and swelling to her left arm.

She didn’t lose consciousness in the attack but said she “was in shock and didn’t remember everything,” according to the court documents.

Johnson was charged with third-degree assault, second-degree wanton endangerment, second-degree strangulation and menacing, authorities say.

Records show Johnson was arraigned April 28 and is being held in jail on $10,000 bail.

“UofL Health does not tolerate any violence or abuse against its staff, patients, or visitors,” UofL Health said in a statement to WHAS. “LMPD has made an arrest and is handling the investigation. Our employee was treated and released.”