A former psychiatric patient will spend five years in prison for attacking a nurse. Our Erin Connolly has more on how a relatively new law made the sentence possible.

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- Judi Rychcik of Delmar said, ''I just wanted to say today is an important day for nurses.''

It's been a tough few months for former nurse Judi Rychcik. In March, she was attacked by Terry James, a former patient at the Capital District Psychiatric Center where she worked.
Rychcik was struck unconscious and suffered serious injuries to her neck, skull and brain.

But Rychcik got some closure Friday in Albany County Court. Her attacker was sentenced to five years in prison and five years of post release supervision.

Rychcik said, ''We want people to know, you can't hit a nurse.''

This was the first time in New York a person was sentenced under the "Violence Against Nurses Law." The law, which went into effect last November, makes it a felony to injure a nurse.

PEF President Ken Brynien said, ''Just because you're a nurse working in a potentially dangerous situation doesn't mean it should be expected from time to time you could be injured on the job.''

Supporters of the law say hospitals also have an obligation to protect their employees.
Apparently, James was triggered by the word "medication," something Rychcik and other nurses caring for him didn't know.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares said, ''The CDPC is home to a number of violent offenders and they need to take a strong look at their policies and the amount of information they're providing to the staff, because you can't have dangerous people in your building and provide no warning to your staff as to the potential for harm.''

And despite the attack, Rychcik said she misses being a nurse and misses the job she may never be able to do again.

''I think it was something I was good at," she said. "I spent many years developing this skill. I miss the people.''

A tough road ahead for Judi Rychcik, but nonetheless a victory for all nurses.

We tried to contact the Capital District Psychiatric Center for a comment, but were directed to call the State Office of Mental Health. Officials there also declined to give us a statement based on federal and state confidentiality laws.