An Ohio State nurse is talking out for the primary time after a reported violent workplace assault final November.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio State nurse who was reportedly attacked on the job final fall is talking publicly for the primary time, saying she doesn’t consider circumstances have improved — even because the hospital factors to progress on workplace safety.
“I thought his plan was to kill me. He was that elevated. He was that escalated. He was that angry,” stated Sam McLeod, who has labored as a postpartum nurse at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center since 2017. “Scared for my life doesn’t even start to elucidate the issues that had gone by way of my head.”
The incident occurred on Nov. 6, 2025, when McLeod says she was ending her shift within the postpartum unit. She walked into what she described as “a full-blown fist fight” between the mom and father of a new child child. She says the daddy was holding his toddler and their new child.
“He was holding this baby around the chest, not supporting the head, the neck, anything like that. And the baby was being jostled around like a sack of potatoes,” McLeod stated.
She stated she tried to de-escalate the scenario. Instead, she stated, the person turned on her — grabbing her on the throat.
“He had placed his hand, grabbed everything and kind of twisted, and placed his knuckles in my neck, and then started dragging me down the hallway,” she stated. “The only thing that kept popping through my head was my daughter at home, and am I going to make it home from this shift?”
McLeod stated she was dragged about 20 yards, citing an incident report, and strangled together with her personal lanyard.
“And at that point, I was begging him to let me go,” she stated. “He stated, ‘Nah, man, you’re coming with me.”
“Scared for my life does not even begin to explain the things that had gone through my head,” she added.
McLeod stated assist didn’t come immediately.
“I mean, he could have killed me multiple times in that 10-minute time span, and there was no help,” she stated.
A spokesperson with Wexner Medical Center stated the safety response was three minutes.
McLeod stated she was finally in a position to break away from his fingers, however confronted a troublesome choice within the moments when she was being dragged.
“The hardest part of that was I had to decide whether I risked that baby’s life to protect my own,” she stated. “And I couldn’t do anything to jeopardize the life of that baby.”
Months later, McLeod stated she continues to be recovering and has not returned to work.
“My life is forever altered,” she stated. “I am so fearful of people because it was such a random act of violence.”
McLeod stated she is receiving about 60% of her pay by way of staff’ compensation and is struggling to get the hospital to cowl remedy for post-traumatic stress dysfunction.
“I feel like I’m being penalized for doing something good and protecting this child,” she stated. “Taking care of people and little babies and tiny humans and new moms is such a passion for me, and that has been stolen right now.”
The hospital’s spokesperson stated the nurse was provided assist by way of Ohio State’s Employee Assistance Program and the Stress Trauma and Resilience program.
“We adhere to all procedures and requirements established by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation when reviewing claims and treatment requests,” the spokesperson stated.
McLeod stated she determined to talk out now as a result of she believes workplace violence is extra widespread than folks notice — and since she desires to assist others.
“The rally they had last fall for me could have very easily been a vigil,” she stated. “This is happening every day, not just at OSU. I want to make sure other nurses and staff are protected.”
Her feedback come because the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center on Thursday launched the Workplace Safety Update for July to December 2025, a biannual report highlighting enhancements.
Hospital leaders say the speed of medical assist calls and incidents has declined by 25% since 2021, even because the system has grown. The report additionally factors to expanded de-escalation coaching, elevated use of specialised response groups and extra safety screening.
But the report’s personal information reveals a number of the most critical conditions — together with assaultive incidents and instances requiring workers to restrain aggressive sufferers — have elevated lately.
“There are times where it doesn’t matter how much de-escalation training we are given,” McLeod stated, wanting over the report. “There’s going to be cases like mine where it doesn’t matter.”
She stated the main target on coaching shifts accountability onto workers.
“The whole de-escalation thing is just a cop out for them,” she stated. “They want to put it back on us.”
Hospital leaders say the progress displays broader engagement throughout workers.
“These results show what is possible when we all share the responsibility of workplace safety and use the tools available,” stated Elizabeth Seely, chief administrative officer of the hospital division and co-chair of the Workplace Safety Steering Committee, in an announcement posted on-line. “The progress we’ve made to date is thanks to our team members’ engagement across the medical center, and we’ll continue to seek their feedback to help drive ongoing improvements.”
McLeod stated extra concrete modifications are wanted, together with necessary response instances from safety and nearer coordination with college police.
“I am vehemently assured that they are not doing everything that they could to protect us,” she stated.
Thirty-one‑yr‑previous Asiakare Minor of Reynoldsburg, who was charged with strangulation and illegal restraint in reference to the assault, has pleaded not responsible. His subsequent courtroom look is scheduled for April 27.
McLeod stated she hopes talking out now will result in change and that she will return to doing what she loves quickly, alongside coworkers she cherishes, who she says deserve higher.
“I am fighting for them, and I want them to be protected like I wasn’t,” she stated.
