Fraudulent Nurse Arrested After Treating Over 4,000 Patients in Florida

Autumn Bardisa, a 29-year-old woman, was apprehended in Florida for allegedly masquerading as a registered nurse and treating over 4,000 patients. Following a months-long investigation, she faces multiple charges, raising concerns about medical fraud and patient safety.

 

A 29-year-old woman has been arrested in Florida on charges of impersonating a registered nurse, having reportedly provided medical care to a staggering 4,486 patients between June 2024 and January 2025. The arrest of Autumn Bardisa follows a police probe initiated when her employers at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway raised suspicions about her qualifications.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly described the case as "one of the most disturbing" instances of medical fraud investigated by his department. Bardisa's employment lasted from July 2023 until January 2025, during which she allegedly submitted falsified documentation and used the license number of another nurse who shared her first name. When questioned about the discrepancies in her records, Bardisa claimed to have changed her surname after marriage and failed to provide required documentation to substantiate her claims.

The alarm was raised when a colleague reported that Bardisa's nursing assistant license had expired. Consequently, her contract was terminated, leading to a seven-month investigation by law enforcement officials. Bardisa was ultimately 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 residence on August 5, while still attired in scrubs, and is currently being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on a bond of $70,000. Sheriff Staly emphasized the serious risk posed to thousands of patients from Bardisa's fraudulent activities and has set up a dedicated email address for any individuals who suspect they may have been treated by her.