A patient is accused of biting and punching a nurse last week at Butler Memorial Hospital in Butler Township.

Carleisha D. Eackles, 20, of Center Township, is awaiting arraignment on felony and misdemeanor assault charges stemming from the incident Thursday that left the victim with injuries, authorities said.

Police said they were called around 7:30 p.m. to the hospital for a reported assault.

The victim, a 45-year-old registered nurse, told police that the defendant became unruly and began “flailing her arms and spitting at staff,” according to charging documents, and called the employees a derogatory name.

At one point, police said, she punched the victim in the left side of the face and bit her on the left hand.

Police described the victim's injuries from the bite as a “small-sized circle bruise.” She also had slight redness of the face near her left eye.

Eackles is charged with aggravated assault, a felony, and simple assault, a misdemeanor.

Under state law, anyone who causes or attempts to cause harm to certain protected workers — including doctors, nurses, emergency technicians and psychiatric aides — can be charged with aggravated assault, no matter the injuries.