Former Florida nurse accused of punching, slapping patient on life support

A former Florida Hospital nurse is out of a job and faces a criminal charge after she allegedly beat up a man who was on life support in the intensive care unit.

The state issued an emergency order to suspend Deanna Tackett's license, which details what investigators said happened inside an ICU room at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial while a camera inside the room was rolling.

The order said Tackett "poses an immediate, serious danger to any patient in her care."

Investigators said other nurses witnessed her attacking an ICU patient who was on life support.

Documents state Tackett walked into the patient's room on May 2, pushed down his head and told him, "I've (expletive) had it with you."

The documents said she also hit the patient in the chest and head with a closed fist, slapped him and forcibly held his head against the hospital bed.

Channel 9 reporter Mike Manzoni stopped by Tackett’s home for comment, but there was a "no trespassing" sign near her driveway, and a barbed wire fence wrapped around her property.

Florida Hospital Fish Memorial released a statement that read, in part, "When the hospital was alerted to the incident, our leadership took immediate action and notified both state and local authorities. The employee involved was terminated immediately."

Court records show Tackett faces a misdemeanor battery charge.

She has a court date scheduled for Aug. 15.

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