Florida Nurse Charged with Putting Hot Sauce in Patients’ Mouths

A central Florida woman has surrendered her nursing license after she was charged with placing hot sauce into the mouths of two sleeping dementia patients.

Tracie Nellis was charged last summer with battery on a person age 65 or older and misdemeanor battery. She pleaded no contest to the battery charge and was sentenced to one year probation. The state Board of Nursing ruled last week that Nellis could give up her license to avoid disciplinary proceedings.

State records show she worked at the Williston Rehabilitation and Nursing Center when the incident happened in March 2013.

The state Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case and arrested Nellis and another employee, but the Ocala Star-Banner reports the charges against him were ultimately dropped.