After Being Held Hostage At Gunpoint, A Nurse Treated Her Attacker and Went Back to Work
Early Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, became the scene of a deadly incident when Pasquotank County deputies fatally shot an armed man who had threatened hospital staff with a firearm. While the shooting made headlines, the actions of the nursing staff reveal more of the story.
Around 1:10 a.m., a man entered the emergency department triage area and brandished a weapon, causing immediate chaos. He aimed the gun at various emergency room workers and a security guard before law enforcement arrived.
When deputies responded, the man allegedly pointed his weapon at them, prompting three officers to discharge their firearms. The suspect received immediate medical attention but was pronounced dead at the scene. The unarmed security guard sustained injuries during the altercation and was treated at the hospital.
Despite the chaos, a nurse who was in the triage room when the suspect was shot by deputies immediately administered medical aid to the suspect after he was wounded.
After watching surveillance video of the incident, Teresa Watson, President of Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, told reporters, “What you will find with our charge nurse, is even though this person had her held in a room with a gun on her, the minute he was shot, she was delivering aid to that individual.”
And if that wasn’t enough, after the shooting and the subsequent chaos, this same nurse completed her scheduled 12-hour shift. This type of action by nurses isn’t just anecdotal – a 2023 American Nurses Foundation survey found that 79% of nurses report regularly putting their patients’ needs above their own well-being, even in potentially dangerous situations.
Unfortunately, this incident is part of a larger, troubling trend. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers experience workplace violence at rates five times higher than other industries.
A staggering 76% of nurses reported experiencing some form of workplace violence in the past year. Emergency departments are especially vulnerable, with one study showing that 100% of emergency nurses reported verbal abuse and 82.1% reported physical violence during their careers.
The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case, as is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. The three deputies involved are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Sentara Albemarle Medical Center is reportedly reviewing its security protocols after this incident. The case highlights the critical need for comprehensive violence prevention programs in healthcare settings. The American Nurses Association reports that such programs can reduce incidents by up to 50% when properly implemented.
As the investigation continues, the actions of this unnamed nurse serve as a powerful reminder of the extraordinary commitment healthcare professionals bring to their work, even in the most challenging circumstances. Despite facing immediate danger, she exemplified the essence of the nursing profession: putting patients first, maintaining composure during crises, and continuing to provide care despite personal risk.
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