Autumn Bardisa allegedly posed as a registered nurse, treating thousands before her contract was terminated, prompting a criminal investigation.
**Florida's "Fake Nurse" Exposed: Over 4,000 Patients Treated Illegally**
**Florida's "Fake Nurse" Exposed: Over 4,000 Patients Treated Illegally**
A woman is arrested for masquerading as a nurse, leading to a massive breach of patient trust and safety.
In a shocking incident from Florida, a woman has been apprehended for fraudulently posing as a registered nurse, raising serious concerns over patient safety and medical regulations. Autumn Bardisa, 29, is suspected of having treated 4,486 patients during her tenure at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway from July 2023 to January 2025. The investigation began after hospital management severed Bardisa's contract, citing suspicions regarding her qualifications.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly described the situation as “one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud we've ever investigated.” Investigators discovered Bardisa had submitted falsified documents, including a licence number associated with a nurse of the same name working at a different facility. When questioned about the discrepancies, she claimed the issues stemmed from a recent marriage, yet failed to provide a valid marriage licence as evidence.
After receiving a promotion in January 2025, her colleague alerted authorities upon realizing that Bardisa’s nursing assistant licence had expired. Consequently, a seven-month investigation ensued, which led to her arrest on multiple charges, including seven counts of practicing health care without a licence and fraudulent use of personal identification.
Authorities apprehended Bardisa at her residence while she was wearing scrubs. “This woman potentially put thousands of lives at risk by pretending to be someone she was not and violating the trust of patients, their families, AdventHealth, and an entire medical community,” said Sheriff Staly. The Sheriff’s office has initiated a dedicated email contact for individuals who suspect they might have been treated by Bardisa, emphasizing the severity of the breach of trust in healthcare.
Bardisa is presently being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, with a bond set at $70,000 (approximately £52,000).
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly described the situation as “one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud we've ever investigated.” Investigators discovered Bardisa had submitted falsified documents, including a licence number associated with a nurse of the same name working at a different facility. When questioned about the discrepancies, she claimed the issues stemmed from a recent marriage, yet failed to provide a valid marriage licence as evidence.
After receiving a promotion in January 2025, her colleague alerted authorities upon realizing that Bardisa’s nursing assistant licence had expired. Consequently, a seven-month investigation ensued, which led to her arrest on multiple charges, including seven counts of practicing health care without a licence and fraudulent use of personal identification.
Authorities apprehended Bardisa at her residence while she was wearing scrubs. “This woman potentially put thousands of lives at risk by pretending to be someone she was not and violating the trust of patients, their families, AdventHealth, and an entire medical community,” said Sheriff Staly. The Sheriff’s office has initiated a dedicated email contact for individuals who suspect they might have been treated by Bardisa, emphasizing the severity of the breach of trust in healthcare.
Bardisa is presently being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, with a bond set at $70,000 (approximately £52,000).
