AtlantiCare Nurse Assaulted Autistic Boy, Authorities Say

A registered nurse accused of repeatedly assaulted a 10-year-old autistic boy in her care at the inpatient psychiatric unit of AtlantiCare Regional Health Center's City Campus repeatedly stabbed the boy with a hypodermic needle and bent his finger backward until it cracked in an effort to make him obey her orders, Acting Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said on Monday.

Nurse Naomi Derrick agreed to the temporary license suspension after she was accused of gross negligence, professional misconduct, and incompetence in her treatment of the child, who resides at the medical facility.

The Attorney General’s Office issued these accusations in a complaint filed with the Board of Nursing after it alleges a series of incidents were either captured on camera in the boy’s room and/or witnessed by another hospital employee.

Derrick was the nurse assigned to the boy between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on May 15, 2016. During that time, authorities allege Derrick threatened the boy with the needle several times, saying she would “give him the needle” if he did not behave.

She also stepped on his bare foot with her shoe, forced him to fall by repeatedly shoving a chair he was holding onto, and bent his pinky finger back until a crack was heard, according to documents filed in the case.

Under the terms of an Interim Consent Order with the Board, Derrick is required to immediately surrender her nursing licenses - both wallet and wall version – to the Board’s attorney.

She is barred from practice pending further action by the Board, and pending the resolution of any criminal charges that may be filed against her during her suspension.

The investigation was conducted by the Enforcement Bureau of the Division of Consumer Affairs.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is conducting the criminal investigation.

Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.