Nurse Seriously Wounded After Being Stabbed by Patient

SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. — Police said a hospital nurse was seriously injured by a patient with a knife, who then fled after the attack.

The incident happened around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday inside the emergency room at Harrington Hospital in Southbridge.

According to the hospital, the employee was seriously injured by a patient wielding a knife who then fled the emergency room.
Authorities said patient cornered her in a small room and stabbed her.

Conor O’Regan, 24, was arrested shortly after the incident at his home, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office said.

The nurse was immediately treated in the emergency room, stabilized and then flown to UMass Hospital, authorities said. The nurse, who was not immediately identified, was in critical but stable condition.

The hospital said patient admissions to the emergency department was being restricted while authorities investigated the incident.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our employee and her family at this time,” a hospital spokesperson said in a statement.