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Nurse accused of punching Alzheimer's patient

ST. CLOUD, Fla. — A St. Cloud nurse was arrested, accused of abusing one of the elderly patients she was supposed to be caring for.

Police said Kathleen Holsman punched an Alzheimer's resident while working as a nurse at the Southern Oaks Health Care Facility on old Canoe Creek Road.

She's facing felony abuse charges.

Police said another nurse witnessed Holsman punching the patient in the hallway of the facility. The witness claims it happened because the elderly patient tried to pull away and when she did, Holsman hit her in the stomach, according to police.

The incident happened in May, but police said Holsman wasn't arrested until Thursday, when a warrant was issued.

When WFTV went by her home after she bonded out of jail on Friday, her husband said she was out shopping. He did not want to comment.

WFTV found records that show years of state health care violations for patient care and safety at the nursing home where Holsman worked.

The center was even fined more than $25,000 and at one point was almost forced to shut down.

Officials at the Southern Oaks Health Care Facility told WFTV in an email that Holsman no longer works there and that they're "saddened" by this incident.