Nurse Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Elderly Patient

Lisa L. Erikson, a 57-year-old former nurse practitioner, has entered a guilty plea for charges stemming from an incident where she pepper-sprayed an 87-year-old patient. The event took place on March 10, 2025, at Whiting Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Ocean County. Prosecutors stated the patient suffered from dementia, depression, and anxiety.

Erikson claimed the patient had become agitated and damaged property, leading her to use her personal pepper spray. However, surveillance footage showed her spraying the patient directly in the face at close range, followed by a second spray. The patient was subsequently confined to his room for 46 minutes without medical aid.

Erikson faces charges including aggravated assault and neglect of an elderly adult. As part of her plea deal, she has agreed to permanently surrender her nursing license. The prosecution is recommending a jail sentence of 364 days as a condition of probation. Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2026.