Alleged Violent Attack On Nurse Has Oklahoma City Medical Community On High Alert

OU Medical Center officials confirmed on Wednesday that one of their nurses who was wearing scrubs was allegedly a target of violence. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol also opened an investigation of a reported incident involving a nurse.

The news has everyone in the metro medical community on high alert.

“I’ve been a nurse for 22 years and I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Tanya McCoy, pediatric nurse. “Would it stop me from being a nurse? Absolutely not.”

Tanya McCoy, an in-home pediatric nurse, said she got an email from her employer to not wear scrubs to or from work.

Much like a memo that went to all OU Medical Center health care workers asking them to not wear scrubs, lab coats or name badges in public.

Hospital officials issued a joint statement from Jason Sanders, MD, MBA, OU Health Sciences Center and Chuck Spicer, FACHE, CEO, OU Medicine, Inc. in response to an alleged attack on one of their nurses.

"One of our nurses was a victim of an act of violence in the community while on their way to work. The alleged perpetrator believed that due to the nurse's role in health care, they were exposing the community to COVID-19."

There was speculation it was a hoax.

“Even if it even turned out to be a hoax, which I don’t think it was in any way,” said McCoy. “But with the scare that’s going on with this pandemic, it makes perfect sense that we could possibly end up being targets. People are scared.”

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol confirmed they are investigating an incident that was reported Wednesday somewhere along the Kilpatrick Turnpike.

In a statement, OHP officials said, "However, we can tell the public that at this time, there is no direct evidence that anyone was targeted because of their profession relating to the COVID-19 virus." 

“Don’t get over afraid,” said McCoy. “You’re more likely to catch this stuff walking into an over populated place. I mean people are still shopping at Walmart.”

OHP could not release any details about the reported incident because it is an ongoing investigation.