A New Jersey nurse renounced the Nightingale Pledge last month when she allegedly pepper-sprayed a helpless elderly dementia patient, police said.
Licensed practical nurse Lisa Erikson, 58, called Manchester Township Police the night of March 19, alleging a 87-year-old patient at Whiting Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Whiting was destroying property within the care facility, after growing agitated with staff.
Officers rolled up to the home, and Erikson explained she had to use pepper spray on the dementia patient — who was also being treated for depression and anxiety — to de-escalate the situation, according to a statement from Manchester Township police.
“Facility staff subsequently confined the patient to his room pending the arrival of police and emergency medical personnel,” the statement noted.
Police spoke to staffers at Whiting Gardens, and reviewed surveillance footage of the incident.
“The video showed the patient damaging property at the nurses’ station before walking down the hallway in a manner that did not appear aggressive or threatening,” the press statement explained.
“Ms. Erikson is then seen approaching the patient from behind and deploying pepper spray directly to his face at extremely close range, followed by a second application,” the statement continued.
The victim fell to the ground, where he remained unattended for several minutes before “being forcibly moved to his room” by Erikson and another of the home’s workers, Joshua Benner, 34.
The pepper-sprayed man was left in his room without any medical aid for more than 45 minutes, cops alleged.
An ambulance was summoned to the home, and the elderly man was treated by EMS for his unspecified injuries.
On April 11, Erikson was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful weapon possession, and abandonment of an elderly or disabled adult.
Benner was charged with abandonment of an elderly or disabled adult, as was the on-duty nursing supervisor, Celia Anetz-Sanzari, 58.
The press statement reminded healthcare workers “of the importance of following proper protocols when dealing with vulnerable populations, especially in long-term care facilities.”
None of the defendants could be reached by phone, and Whiting Gardens did not respond to requests for comment.