News Summary
Autumn Bardisa, a 29-year-old from Florida, was arrested after allegedly treating 4,500 patients while posing as a nurse. Bardisa faces multiple felony charges for practicing without a license and identity fraud. Employed by AdventHealth Palm Coast, her deception came to light when an internal investigation was triggered by the discovery of an expired nursing assistant license. Despite passing her nursing test after her termination, Bardisa’s recent criminal charges threaten her newly acquired nursing license. Authorities are urging individuals potentially impacted by her actions to come forward.
Florida – Autumn Bardisa, a 29-year-old woman from Palm Coast, was arrested for allegedly posing as a nurse and treating approximately 4,500 patients over a period extending from June 2024 to January 2025. Bardisa faces significant legal repercussions, including seven counts of practicing as a healthcare professional without a license and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information, both classified as third-degree felonies.
Bardisa was employed by AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway from July 2023 until her termination in January 2025. Initially hired as an advanced nurse tech, she worked under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse. During her hiring process, she submitted a job application asserting that she had completed the requisite nursing education, despite not having passed the national exam required for nursing licensure.
As part of the application, Bardisa supplied a fictitious license number that belonged to another registered nurse with the same first name, Autumn, who worked at a different AdventHealth location. To explain the difference in last names, Bardisa claimed she recently got married and provided a fraudulent marriage license that she failed to produce when requested by her employers.
The unraveling of Bardisa’s deception began when a colleague discovered her expired certified nursing assistant license while Bardisa was being considered for a promotion in January 2025. This led AdventHealth to initiate an internal investigation, which confirmed that she did not possess a valid nursing license.
Bardisa was subsequently terminated from her position on January 22, 2025, for her inability to authenticate her identity. Following her job loss, a comprehensive investigation was conducted by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, alongside the Florida Health Department and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This investigation lasted seven months, culminating in the issuance of an arrest warrant for Bardisa on August 5, 2025. She was apprehended while wearing medical scrubs at her residence.
Sheriff Rick Staly described this incident as one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud to date, highlighting the potential risks posed to numerous patients treated by Bardisa. She is currently being held with a bond set at $70,000 and is scheduled for arraignment on September 2, 2025.
Despite her termination, Bardisa passed her state nursing test and became a registered nurse on February 18, 2025. However, her recent criminal charges could lead to the revocation of her nursing license.
AdventHealth has acknowledged oversights during Bardisa’s onboarding process, particularly noting the failure to identify gaps in documentation, such as the missing marriage license. Sheriff Staly has reiterated that, regardless of Bardisa’s educational background, her actions constituted identity theft and fraud, making her conduct inexcusable.
The sheriff’s office is currently urging any individuals who may have been affected by Bardisa’s actions to reach out to them through a dedicated email address set up for this inquiry. This prompt is aimed at ensuring that all potential victims can report their experiences and receive appropriate support.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- NBC News
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- USA Today
- Wikipedia: Nursing
- Google Search: Nursing fraud
- Google Scholar: Nursing fraud
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Nursing
- Google News: Nursing fraud
Author: STAFF HERE ORLANDO WRITER
ORLANDO STAFF WRITER The ORLANDO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOrlando.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Orlando, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, Megacon Orlando, and Central Florida Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, plus leading businesses in leisure and hospitality that power the local economy such as Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, and Universal Orlando. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
