By Alice Benjamin, MSN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C

Picture this: It’s a busy shift at your hospital, and you’re running between patients, charting assessments, and coordinating care with your team. A new nurse has joined the unit — quiet but eager, asking thoughtful questions about hospital policies and pitching in to help wherever needed.

At first glance, she seems like an ideal addition to the team.

Now imagine finding out weeks later that this nurse wasn’t a nurse at all. Instead, she was a fraud, someone caring for your patients without the training, credentials, or legal right to be there.

This isn’t a hypothetical, worst-case scenario. It’s exactly what happened in Burbank, California, where a woman allegedly used stolen Social Security numbers and falsified credentials to secure jobs at multiple hospitals, according to news reports.

Over the course of a month, she cared for more than 60 patients alongside her preceptor, all while impersonating an actual nurse.

For me, this story isn’t just shocking — it’s personal. As nurses, we’ve all worked hard to earn our licenses. They represent years of dedication, education, and commitment to our patients. The thought of someone stealing that and placing patients in jeopardy is both infuriating and terrifying.

How can we protect ourselves from this happening to us?

The story behind the fraud

This fraudster’s ability to slip through the cracks wasn’t a fluke and highlights vulnerabilities in even the most trusted systems.

She allegedly acquired personal information, including Social Security numbers, which could've been done through any of the common methods of identity theft — phishing scams, data breaches, or simply exploiting unsuspecting individuals. With that information, she allegedly created fake nursing licenses and other credentials that allowed her to bypass hiring protocols.

Hospitals, under pressure from staffing shortages, may have inadvertently fast-tracked her hiring, relying on surface-level documentation instead of verifying her credentials through systems like Nursys.

This case isn’t just about one person’s fraud. It’s a cautionary tale for all of us as healthcare professionals to recognize how vulnerable our profession can be to these kinds of scams.

Why you should be concerned

When someone impersonates a nurse, the consequences ripple far beyond the fraud itself. The most immediate concern is patient safety. In this case, patients were placed in the hands of someone who lacked the training and expertise to provide proper care. The risk of medication errors, missed assessments, and improper interventions are immeasurable.

But there’s another layer to this: the damage it does to the profession as a whole. Cases like and the 2023 nursing diploma scam this erode the trust patients place in us. These incidents create skepticism about whether healthcare systems are doing enough to ensure patient safety.

For those of us who unknowingly work alongside a nurse imposter, there’s the risk of professional scrutiny and guilt by association should we happen to be working with them when tragedy struck due to their actions.

It also makes us question whether we can keep our licenses safe and if someone can fraudulently use our identities or credentials. I have some insights on how we can all stay safe.

How nurses can protect their licenses

As nurses, we have to be vigilant about protecting the licenses we’ve worked so hard to earn. Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your professional identity:

1. Monitor your license with Nursys e-Notify

This free service from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing alerts you to any changes or updates to your license. It’s an essential tool for catching unauthorized actions early.

2. Protect your personal information

Be cautious about where and how you share your Social Security number, nursing license number, and other sensitive details. Keep physical documents like your license and certifications in a secure location and avoid oversharing on social media.

3. Stay vigilant online

Phishing scams and data breaches are common ways impersonators gather information. Use strong passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, and verify the legitimacy of any request for personal details before responding.

4. Regularly check your employment and credit records

Request a Social Security earnings statement annually to ensure the list of your former and current employers is accurate. Review your credit report for unusual activity, which could signal broader identity theft.

5. Speak up about concerns

If you notice a colleague struggling with basic nursing tasks or exhibiting behavior that seems inconsistent with their credentials, don’t hesitate to raise your concerns with management.

What employers need to do

While nurses can take steps to protect themselves, healthcare institutions also have a responsibility to prevent cases like this. Hospitals and clinics should:

-Verify credentials directly through state nursing boards or Nursys.

-Conduct thorough background checks, even when they’re under pressure to hire more nurses.

-Regularly audit employee credentials to ensure everyone on staff meets the necessary qualifications.

A wake-up call for nurses

This fraudster’s alleged crimes are a stark reminder that our licenses are not just a piece of paper or a tally or our educational accomplishments — they are symbols of our hard work, dedication, and responsibility to our patients. Protecting them requires constant vigilance, both from us as individuals and from the systems we trust to safeguard them.

This case is more than just a headline. It’s a call to action. Let’s use it as an opportunity to educate ourselves, advocate for stronger safeguards, and remind the world why nursing remains one of the most trusted professions.