Autumn Bardisa, a 29-year-old woman accused of impersonating a nurse and treating over 4,400 patients, was apprehended after her contract was terminated due to qualification concerns. She faces multiple counts of practicing without a license and using fraudulent identification.
Arrest of 'Fake Nurse' Sparks Concerns Over Medical Fraud in Florida
Arrest of 'Fake Nurse' Sparks Concerns Over Medical Fraud in Florida
A woman posing as a nurse, treating nearly 4,500 patients, has been arrested in Florida, highlighting significant issues in medical oversight.
A woman has been arrested in Florida for allegedly masquerading as a registered nurse and treating approximately 4,500 patients over the course of several months. The investigation into Autumn Bardisa commenced when hospital administrators at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway terminated her employment, raising questions about her qualifications.
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office reported that Bardisa provided medical services to 4,486 patients from June 2024 to January 2025. According to Sheriff Rick Staly, the case marks a troubling instance of medical fraud that poses a direct threat to patient safety. Bardisa, 29, was employed from July 2023 to January 2025 but is accused of submitting falsified documents, allegedly using a license number that belonged to another nurse with the same first name employed at a different location.
When confronted about the discrepancies in her credentials, Bardisa claimed she had recently changed her surname due to marriage but failed to provide the required marriage license when requested. Her predicament worsened when she was considered for a promotion shortly before a colleague alerted authorities after discovering that her nursing assistant license had expired.
Following the reports, her contract was terminated and a seven-month criminal investigation ensued. Bardisa was charged with seven counts of practicing a healthcare profession without a license and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information. She was arrested at her home on August 5 while still wearing nursing scrubs.
Sheriff Staly expressed deep concerns about the implications of Bardisa's actions, remarking that her actions could have endangered many lives and undermined the trust patients place in medical professionals. To aid in identifying others who may have been treated by Bardisa, the Sheriff's Office has established a special email address for inquiries related to the case. Bardisa is currently being held in custody at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, with bail set at $70,000 (approximately £52,000).
