Unlicensed individual posing as a nurse apprehended following treatment of approximately 4,000 patients: Sheriff's announcement
In a shocking turn of events, Autumn Bardisa, a 29-year-old nurse, was arrested on Tuesday for posing as a registered nurse and treating 4,486 patients without a valid license. This incident, which took place in Florida, has raised serious concerns about patient safety and the integrity of healthcare.
Bardisa was hired as an advanced nurse technician in July 2023, working under the supervision of a registered nurse. However, her license was expired, a fact that was discovered when she was offered a promotion in January. Despite this, she continued to work at the hospital, using a stolen license from a different hospital.
The license she presented had a number that matched an individual with her first name, but with a different last name. This case, according to Sheriff Rick Staly, is one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud they've ever investigated.
The nurse who stole the license attended school with Bardisa, but the two did not personally know one another, officials said. This incident is not the first of its kind, as similar cases have been reported in Pennsylvania and California.
In Pennsylvania, a nurse was arrested in July for using multiple aliases and identities of four confirmed nurses from southern states. Another similar incident occurred in November 2024, when a 44-year-old woman impersonated a registered nurse at a hospital in Burbank, California.
Impersonating a nurse without a license in the United States is a recognized but relatively rare crime. These cases often attract media and legal attention when uncovered due to the risks posed to patient safety and the integrity of healthcare. For example, a high-profile case in 2025 involved Shannon Nicole Womack, who impersonated nurses across several states using multiple aliases and social security numbers, revealing vulnerabilities in healthcare hiring and credential verification systems.
Regarding the consequences for those found guilty, they can be severe. Criminal charges such as identity theft, forgery, endangering the welfare of vulnerable individuals, and falsely pretending to hold a nursing license can be levied. Legal penalties vary by state and case severity but often include imprisonment, fines, and restitution orders. Professional and civil consequences may include exclusion from healthcare facilities and being barred from any healthcare employment. In federal cases, aggravated identity theft charges and related penalties have been applied.
After termination on Jan. 22, hospital officials contacted the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, which began an investigation. It is not immediately clear whether Bardisa has an attorney who can speak on her behalf.
Authorities urge healthcare employers to perform rigorous credential verification and encourage reporting of suspected fraudulent credentials to protect patients and maintain professional standards. Jail records do not indicate Bardisa's next court appearance.
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[1] This incident raises questions about the importance of thorough health-and-wellness checks, particularly in the medical-conditions field, to ensure patient safety and the integrity of healthcare.
[2] Despite the rarity of case such as Autumn Bardisa's, it highlights the need for general-news outlets to cover such incidents to increase public awareness and promote stricter crime-and-justice measures within the healthcare industry.
