A Kentucky Nurse Stabbed When Leaving Work

According to the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), a nurse was stabbed outside of Jewish Hospital in Louisville on April 17th. The nurse, who has not been identified, was leaving work and waiting for a ride when a woman identified as 35-year-old Lacy Wilson allegedly got into an argument with an employee, and hit the nurse. When the nurse fell to the ground, the arrest report describes Wilson pulling out a sharp object and stabbing the nurse in the back. The nurse received treatment for non-life threatening injuries and we are relieved to hear that they are expected to survive.

As many as 1 in 5 healthcare providers are subject to workplace violence, and are 5 times more likely to sustain a workplace violence injury than other professions. On February 18, 2025 a nurse in Hopkinsville had her head stomped on multiple times by a patient, on March 8, 2025 nurses and other healthcare workers at UofL Peace Hospital in Louisville called 911 pleading for help after 15 juveniles began to fight, injuring at least one worker, and in late March UK hospital took actions to protect against terrorist threats to hospitals. Violence against nurses is unacceptable, and with the current nursing shortage in Kentucky, it is unsustainable. Research shows workplace violence is tied to lower job satisfaction, burnout, emotional stress, intention to quit a job, and increased staff turnover.

In 2023, the KNA focused on workplace violence prevention in the aftermath of COVID-19.  House Bill 176 was signed into law and was meant to require all health care facilities to develop and execute a workplace safety assessment to identify the risk of workplace violence against healthcare workers and create a workplace safety plan to address the risks identified in the assessment. Additionally, all healthcare facilities must annually provide training to all healthcare workers, volunteers, and contracted security personnel. Unfortunately, issues with the language in the bill have prevented wide implementation. The KNA is actively working with bill sponsor Jason Nemes to refine the bill to provide the protections that the bill was designed to afford to healthcare providers across Kentucky.

The Kentucky Nurses Association is asking for legislators to join the push for better conditions for our healthcare workers, and calling on healthcare organizations, associations, and the public to support nurses and other providers by contacting your state senators and representatives and asking for more protections for healthcare workers. They want to have a coalition of willing healthcare providers to help lawmakers navigate the nuances and practical realities of ensuring Kentucky's healthcare workforce is safe in their work environment.