The Washington state Nursing Assistant program has issued a statement of charges against a nursing assistant working in Olympia who was convicted of third-degree assault of a child in Lewis County Superior Court last November.
The state Department of Health alleges that the conviction constitutes unprofessional conduct and is a violation of the standards for nursing assistant conduct, establishing grounds for disciplinary action.
Nicole Rose Christie, 30, worked for Dungarvin Supported Living in Olympia from 2021 through 2024, according to the DOH. She first received her nursing assistant credential in November 2022 and was working as a nursing assistant for Dungarvin Supported Living at the time she was arrested on Oct. 25, 2024, in Lewis County.
Christie was charged Oct. 28 in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of second-degree assault of a child, domestic violence, for spanking a 4-year-old boy in her care with a plastic ladle in Chehalis, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
The incident itself was reported by the victim’s stepmother to Child Protective Services on Oct. 21, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
Child Protective Services referred the case to the Chehalis Police Department on Oct. 22. In the referral, a Child Protective Services agent “reported the bruises to be the size of softballs on both (bottom) cheeks,” according to court documents.
When questioned by an officer on Oct. 25, Christie reportedly “confirmed that she had spanked (the victim) with a ladle and provided (the officer) with the ladle that was used,” according to court documents.
Christie pleaded guilty to the amended charge of third-degree assault of a child, domestic violence, on Nov. 1.
“I, with criminal negligence, caused bodily injury to (the victim) when I spanked him with a spoon … the injury caused substantial pain that lasted long enough to cause considerable suffering,” Christie stated in a written guilty plea filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Nov. 1.
Due to her lack of criminal history, the standard sentencing range for this conviction was one to three months in jail, according to court documents.
A judge sentenced Christie to the maximum allotted by the standard sentencing range, three months, on Nov. 1. Her sentence was followed by 12 months in community custody. A no-contact order in favor of the victim is in place.
Christie’s nursing assistant credential was still active at the time of her release from prison. It is set to expire May 25, 2025, according to a state Department of Health database.
The state Nursing Assistant Program, on designation by the secretary of health, filed a statement of charges against Christie on Feb. 13.
She has an opportunity to defend against the allegations before disciplinary action is taken.
The legal documents on this case can be seen online by clicking the link on provider credential search on the state Department of Health’s website at https://doh.wa.gov/. Copies can be requested by calling 360-236-4700.
