FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A woman has been arrested after posing as a licensed nurse and treating thousands of unsuspecting patients at AdventHealth Hospital in Palm Coast, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) reported.
Autumn Bardisa, 29, faces seven counts of practicing a health care profession without a license and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information. Both are third-degree felonies that carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison per charge. She was arrested Tuesday andis currently being held on a $70,000 bond.
Authorities Outline How Bardisa Allegedly Misled AdventHealth Hospital
According to the FCSO, Bardisa gained employment as an advanced nurse technician under false pretenses in July 2023. She claimed to have completed the required schooling to be a registered nurse but had not passed the licensing exam, reports The News Journal. Later, she informed the hospital that she had passed her licensing test and submitted a license number. The number, however, belonged to another nurse with a matching first name but a different last name. Bardisa explained the discrepancy by claiming she had recently married and changed her last name but failed to provide a marriage license when requested.
Related Article: Man Impersonates Nurse at UPMC, Responds to Medical Emergencies
Bardisa’s impersonation unraveled in January 2025 when she was offered a promotion. A coworker researching Bardisa’s credentials discovered that her nursing license was invalid and that her certified nursing assistant license had expired. Hospital administrators conducted an internal investigation, terminated Bardisa’s employment on January 22, and reported her to law enforcement.
Further investigation conducted by FCSO detectives, along with the Florida Department of Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed that Bardisa had impersonated another nurse and treated 4,486 patients from June 2024 to January 2025, reports WJAC.
Impact and Legal Proceedings
Sheriff Rick Staly emphasized the possible implications of Bardisa’s actions, stating, “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.”
Despite the severity of the accusations, officials confirmed no known injuries or deaths have been linked to Bardisa’s care. Sheriff Staly also noted that Bardisa appeared to have been performing well at her job.
Related Article: Here’s What Campus Employee Background Checks Should Include
Since her firing, Bardisa has passed her state licensing exam and received a legitimate nursing license on February 18. However, authorities believe the state Board of Nursing may revoke her license as a result of the charges against her.
How Patients Can Respond
Patients who believe they may have been treated by Bardisa are encouraged to contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office for more information. Emails can be sent to [email protected] for assistance.
AdventHealth has declined to comment on the case, citing personnel-related restrictions.
