Woman Arrested for Posing as Licensed Nurse, Treating Thousands of Patients at Florida Hospital

A disturbing case of medical fraud has come to light after a 29-year-old woman was arrested for posing as a registered nurse and providing medical care to thousands of patients at a Florida hospital without ever holding a valid nursing license.

Autumn Bardisa was taken into custody on multiple charges, including seven counts of practicing a health care profession without a license and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information, following a thorough seven-month investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Bardisa was hired by AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway in July 2023 as an advanced nurse technician. During the application process, she claimed to be an “education first” registered nurse, meaning she had completed nursing education but had yet to pass the national licensing exam. However, Bardisa misrepresented her credentials by stating she had passed the exam and provided a license number that matched her first name but had a different last name.

She explained the discrepancy by claiming she had recently changed her last name due to marriage but never provided the requested marriage license to verify the claim. This inconsistency initially went unnoticed.

The deception unraveled in January 2025 when Bardisa was offered a promotion. A coworker attempted to verify her nursing license status and discovered that her certified nursing assistant license was expired. Further scrutiny by hospital administrators revealed that Bardisa had never submitted a marriage license to corroborate her name change.

On January 22, Bardisa was terminated, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation. Detectives found that the license number Bardisa provided belonged to a different nurse named Autumn, who had attended nursing school with Bardisa and was also employed by AdventHealth.

Further investigation uncovered that Bardisa had actively participated in delivering medical care to 4,486 patients between June 2024 and January 2025, all without a valid nursing license.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly condemned Bardisa’s actions, calling it “one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud” his office has investigated. “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,” he said in a statement.

Legal Consequences and Public Safety

Bardisa faces serious legal consequences including charges for unlicensed practice and identity fraud, with her bond set at $70,000. Beyond criminal penalties, victims affected by her unauthorized medical treatment may have grounds to pursue civil claims for medical negligence or malpractice.

Patients who received care from an unlicensed provider may experience complications or improper treatment, and may be entitled to compensation for injuries suffered due to lack of proper professional qualifications. Legal counsel specializing in medical malpractice can assist victims in evaluating their options.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of verifying medical credentials and maintaining strict oversight in healthcare facilities. Patients should not hesitate to ask questions about their providers’ licenses and credentials, which are typically public record and can be verified through state licensing boards.

Healthcare institutions must also uphold rigorous hiring and verification practices to prevent such breaches of trust and safeguard patient safety.

If you or a loved one has been treated by someone posing as a medical professional or suspect you have been harmed due to negligent care, it is vital to consult with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. They can guide you through the process of securing your rights and seeking compensation.