‘First person available’: Patient chokes nurse when hospital discharge was taking too long, cops say

Inset: Mykeisha Johnson (Jefferson County Jail). Background: University of Louisville hospital (Google Maps).

A patient at a Kentucky hospital became so enraged at the discharge process taking too long that she allegedly choked a nurse.

Mykeisha Johnson, 35, was a patient on the third floor at the University of Louisville Hospital and was set to be discharged on Saturday when she was allegedly getting annoyed with how long the process was taking. When a nurse who happened to be making her rounds at the time walked past her room, Johnson pounced.

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According to a police report obtained by local Fox affiliate WDRB, surveillance video showed Johnson choke the nurse, slam her to the floor and repeatedly punch her in the face. Staff eventually pulled Johnson off the nurse.

Johnson reportedly said the nurse had nothing to do with her prolonged wait, but she was “the first person available.” The nurse went to the emergency room with pain in her neck, back of her head, leg, abdomen and shoulder. Though she never lost consciousness during the attack, she said she was “in shock and didn’t remember everything,” the affidavit reportedly said.

The hospital released the following statement to local media outlets:

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