ER nurse attacked by patient

Early Monday morning, a nurse was attacked by a patient while working her shift in the emergency department at Moore Regional Hospital. The injuries were so severe that the nurse, Crystal Thompson, had to receive immediate medical treatment. 

A FirstHealth public safety officer who was in the emergency department at the time of the incident responded immediately to the attack, and with assistance from a Pinehurst Police officer, the attacker was detained and placed under arrest, said FirstHealth in a statement to Sandhills Sentinel. “It is unclear what led to the attack, and the incident is currently under investigation. This incident highlights a growing concern seen across the country. Violence against health care workers is a critical issue, and we prioritize the safety and support for our dedicated teams who work tirelessly to care for others.”

The hospital did not release the name of the patient who attacked Thompson, but according to arrest records, 35-year-old Karla Hardy was arrested and charged with assault and physical injury on emergency personnel and resisting a public officer. She was booked in the Moore County Detention Center under a $10,000 bond. 

Thompson’s daughter, Samantha Thompson, spoke to Sandhills Sentinel on Wednesday on behalf of her mother. She said Hardy was being triaged that morning, and the attack happened in the hallway. She added it’s unclear why her mother was attacked and that her mother doesn’t know Hardy. Samantha Thompson said her mother suffered a distal fibula fracture, a closed head injury, and torn ligaments and cartilage in her knee.

Crystal Thompson is taking time off to heal physically and mentally and reflect on whether she will continue serving others as a nurse.

“She has been mentally and physically destroyed, said Samantha Thompson. “She has always been a trusting individual and has gone over and beyond to help others. I am sure if she returns, her guard will be up. She has given up so much in these last 17 years, and she felt this was an extreme attempt by a patient to end her career.

“The outreach of our community and surrounding areas has been phenomenal. She never expected her story to reach so many. Many have reached out to her with abuse stories, and it is heartbreaking. I knew my mom was special and loved by so many, but I had no idea to this extreme. We want to thank each and every person that has prayed, donated, and stood beside us. We remain proud to be part of this amazing community.”

A GoFundMe page has raised over $20,000 to assist Thompson and her family during her time out of work. 

The fundraiser page also had copied a social media post that Thompson wrote after the attack. 

“As I lay here tonight thinking about the road ahead of me … I question my life’s career decisions,” said Thompson in a social media post. “A patient physically attacked me last night in the ER, placing me into a chokehold, slamming my head onto the floor, breaking a bone, and destroying my knee, which will likely require surgery to repair. I made a decision 17 years ago to serve my community and last night’s events make me question why.”

Samantha Thompson stated that FirstHealth has been in daily contact with her mom.

Feature photo via GoFundMe.

~Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Curtis Self. Curtis has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2019.

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