Forty-two-year-old Daniela Poggiali was arrested at the weekend on suspicion of killing an elderly patient.
Prosecutors say they are looking into further suspicious deaths at the hospital and believe they have been caused by the victims being injected by an intravenous dose of potassium.
Potassium causes the heart to stop beating and leaves the blood stream several days after being administered and is difficult to trace.
A smiling Poggiali was seen being led handcuffed by police as she entered a courthouse on Tuesday (October 14) in nearby Ravenna. The nurse has denied all accusations and has said she is a victim of a plot against her.
Local media are running gruesome tales from co-workers at the hospital, citing that Poggiali had her own way of dealing with annoying patients and pushy relatives.
Billboards carrying the local newspaper headlines read: “Suspicious deaths, too much silence, investigation enters hospital” and “Nurse in prison, friends speak.”
“I am so sorry for what has happened I just can't put my feelings into words” said elderly patient Nando Scarpelli as he entered the hospital.
“I think there should have been more controls by the ward sisters” said Lugo resident Lorella Guidoboni echoing the thoughts of many as to how so many suspicious deaths could have occurred before action was taken.
Police were not visible at the hospital on Wednesday but investigations are still ongoing, with Poggiali being held in a local prison before a further court appearance is set.