Nurse Who Smeared Feces-Filled Diaper on Coworker’s Face Found Guilty of Assault
A Tennessee nurse has been convicted of assault after smearing a soiled adult diaper on her coworker’s face at a nursing home, according to the district attorney’s office.
Sharandal Mitchell, 40, a licensed practical nurse contracted through ShiftKey, was found guilty of assault with offensive contact, a Class B misdemeanor, following a jury trial in Humboldt Law Court. The incident took place on March 30, 2024, at Medina Christian Care Nursing Home in Medina, Tennessee.
Circuit Court Judge Clayburn Peeples is expected to sentence Mitchell in May 2026.
According to prosecutors, the chain of events began when a coworker reported Mitchell for refusing to care for a patient who was experiencing a prolonged nosebleed and for failing to administer prescribed medications. Facility management then instructed Mitchell to return the keys to her medication cart and leave the premises.
Mitchell refused to leave and began acting erratically, blaming the coworker for contacting management. Law enforcement was called to the scene and waited approximately two hours as the situation unfolded.
Mitchell then entered a patient’s room where the coworker was present. According to authorities, she put on gloves, picked up a used adult diaper containing urine and feces, grabbed the coworker by the hair, and smeared the diaper on her face. The coworker pushed Mitchell away in self-defense, and officers took Mitchell into custody.
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District Attorney General Frederick H. Agee commented on the conviction, stating that “the jury’s decision holds Mitchell accountable for committing the act in a health care facility.” Agee also emphasized that “prosecutors are committed to pursuing justice with the same diligence as felony cases.”
Mitchell was convicted of assault with offensive contact, classified as a Class B misdemeanor in Tennessee. While not a felony, the conviction carries a criminal record and was the result of a full jury trial rather than a plea deal.
This case is a stark reminder that workplace violence in healthcare settings remains a serious and persistent problem. According to a 2024 report from National Nurses United, more than 80% of nurses have experienced at least one type of workplace violence within the past year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly 73% of all nonfatal workplace violence cases requiring days away from work occur in the healthcare and social assistance industry.
While most discussions about workplace violence in nursing focus on patient-to-nurse incidents, this case highlights that nurse-on-nurse violence also occurs and can result in criminal charges. Nurses who witness or experience any form of workplace assault should document the incident thoroughly and report it to both facility management and law enforcement.
🤔 Have you ever experienced or witnessed workplace violence from a coworker in a healthcare setting? How did your facility handle it? Share your experience in the comments below.
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