Published in the January 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 1

Tawhnee Lee Mondy secured employment as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) with a physician’s group in Dallas, Texas, on April 5, 2005. Ms. Mondy accepted the position of LVN and wore a badge which identified her as a LVN. The employer requested a copy of Ms. Mondy’s license and Ms. Mondy made several excuses why it was not available. The employer attempted to verify the license on the Board's web site and found no record of Ms. Mondy having a license to practice vocational nursing in the State of Texas. Ms. Mondy was told that she could not return to work until she brought a copy of her license for verification. Ms. Mondy was terminated from employment on June 15, 2005, and reported to the Board. The case was referred to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Dallas, Texas.

Published in the January 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 1

Christina Armstrong secured employment as a registered nurse with a third-party pharmaceutical company in Dallas, Texas, on December 29, 2004. Ms. Armstrong identified herself as Christina "Tina" Armstrong and transferred to a telephone position with the company on March 30, 2005. On April 15, 2005, the supervisor gave Ms. Armstrong a written warning for deficient documentation and at the same time the facility received the Board’s Newsletter in which Ms. Armstrong was listed in the Imposter Warning. The employer attempted to verify the license number, which Ms. Armstrong provided on the Board’s web site and it came back with another individual’s name. Ms. Armstrong was immediately suspended while the investigation was under way. Ms. Armstrong denied any violation and stated that there was some misunderstanding. She told them that she had sent an overnight delivery to the Board for a name change and the Board was sending her a clear license within thirty (30) days. The employer terminated Ms. Armstrong’s employment. The facility verified that Ms. Armstrong did not have any hands-on interaction with patients, other than telephone contact, and there was no injury to any patient. The Dallas County District Attorney’s office is already working on a case involving previous practice as a RN by Ms. Armstrong, including a felony offense for tampering with a RN License. The Board has referred this case to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Dallas, Texas.

SEE ALSO: Published in the April 2005 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 36, No. 2

Published in the January 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 1

Lucinda Lee Liddy secured employment as a Registered Nurse/Risk Management Specialist with an insurance services company in Austin, Texas on October 15, 2003. Ms. Liddy used business cards that identified her as a RN/Risk Management Specialist and sent out letters with RN after her name. Ms. Liddy represented herself to her employer and clients as a RN. During preparation for an audit, the employer was unable to verify Ms. Liddy’s RN license on the Board’s web site. The employer confronted Ms. Liddy and requested that she present a copy of her Texas RN license. Ms. Liddy admitted that she was not licensed in Texas and stated that she was previously licensed in Oklahoma. Verification attempts with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing revealed that Ms. Liddy had never held a license in Oklahoma. When confronted with the information, Ms. Liddy resigned her position on August 24, 2004. When asked why she did it, Ms. Liddy replied: "I really wanted the job. I lied and I got caught." The Board referred this case to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Austin, Texas.

Published in the January 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 1

Nancy Terina Hill secured employment as the Director of Nursing with a long term care facility in Mesquite, Texas, on May 25, 2004. Ms. Hill presented a registered nurse license at the time of hire; however, the copy disappeared from her personnel file. The employer found out that law enforcement was looking for Ms. Hill for the offense of "Theft of Funds" involving social security checks. The employer helped set up Ms. Hill's arrest at the facility in September 2004. The employer verified that Ms. Hill was convicted and sentenced to six (6) years in the Federal Prison in Carswell. In June, 2005, the Board also received information from a licensee stating that she believed someone in the Dallas area was using her license number and social security number. The licensee was getting collection requests for bills she had not incurred. The licensee reported that she has never worked in the Dallas area and for the past two years she has lived and worked in Austin, Texas. Ms. Hill used the licensee's information to purchase a vehicle and the licensee found out that this imposter had worked for one year at a nursing home using her information and license number. The licensee also received information that the Imposter had been arrested on theft charges. The licensee contacted the police and reported the identity theft. The Board has referred this case to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Dallas Texas.

Published in the April 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 2

Rebecca Ann Brandt’s license to practice professional nursing in the State of Texas was revoked on July 25, 2002. On May 25, 2004, Ms. Brandt secured employment as a registered nurse with two staffing agencies in Houston, Texas. Ms. Brandt had taken the identity of a currently licensed RN and used all the information to secure employment and borrow money from the agencies. The information concerning this case has been reported to all the appropriate legal authorities including the Brownsville Police Department, Houston Police Department, and the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department.

Published in the April 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin,Volume 37, No. 2

On August 22, 2005, Nancy S. Cross interviewed for a position as an LVN with an agency in Selma, Texas. Ms. Cross presented her driver's license, social security card, and a copy of a fraudulent LVN license, with an expiration date of October 31, 2002 . The staff attempted to verify the license by phone and on-line, but they were unable to match the number with Ms. Cross’s name. The impostor was not hired and the information was reported to the Board. The case was referred to the Guadalupe County District Attorney’s Office in Seguin, Texas.

Published in the July 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 3

Nancy Stivers Cross Parham secured employment as a LVN with a research company in San Antonio, Texas, on January 3, 2006. Ms. Parham presented a resume which listed thirty (30) years of LVN experience. Ms. Parham was informed that a copy of her license would be needed, and she reported that she had moved and lost the license. On January 24, 2006, Ms. Parham had not provided the copy of the license, and staff was unable to verify the license on line. They continued to allow Ms. Parham to work until February 27, 2006, when she was told not to return to work until she provided the license. Ms. Parham called the office and told them that she found the license, which was under her maiden name when she was living in Beaumont. The staff were suspicious and they contacted the licensee in Beaumont and verified that it was not the same person. They confronted Ms. Parham with the information, and she admitted to never having a nursing license. She was terminated immediately. The case was referred to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, San Antonio, Texas.

Published in the April 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 2

In December 2003, Teresa Sanchez Olvera secured employment as a registered nurse with a doctor’s office in Round Rock, Texas. In July 2004, a new office manager began a review of the personnel files and found that Ms. Olvera’s file did not include a copy of the license, and she requested a copy. Ms. Olvera presented a copy of a fraudulent license which is issued to another individual. In November 2004, Ms. Olvera presented the same license number with the name of Teresa (Terri) Olvera, expiring in November, 2006. The office manager attempted to check the status of the license on the Board website and could not find a license for Teresa Olvera. Ms. Olvera resigned from her position on December 16, 2005. The case was referred to the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office in Georgetown, Texas.

Published in the July 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 3

Sandra Leigh Harrell secured employment as an occupational nurse in Sherman, Texas, on January 9, 2006. Ms. Harrell was instructed to bring her license for verification, and she stated that she had her purse stolen and didn’t have a copy of it. Ms. Harrell reported that she also had a Mississippi License, but the employer was unable to verify it. Later that day, Ms. Harrell gave the employer a copy of her Florida license which showed the name Sandra Lee Smith with an address in Clearwater, Florida, and also provided a Mississippi license with the number. Several attempts were made to verify the licenses on line and by calling the boards, but nothing was found. A call to the Texas Board was placed and no record of a Sandra Harrell, Sandra Smith, or Sandra Burngardner was found. Ms. Harrell was terminated from employment effective January 19, 2006, and the information was reported to the board. The case was referred to the Grayson County District Attorney’s Office, Sherman, Texas.

Published in the July 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 3

Ericka L. Adams applied for employment as a school nurse with a school district in east Texas on August 6, 2004. Ms. Adams informed the school district that she was a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) and wanted to substitute in the school clinic. School district staff asked Ms. Adams for a copy of her nursing license. Ms. Adams stated she had already faxed a copy to their office; however, no license could be found. On August 20, 2004, Ms. Adams was scheduled to work at a school clinic and was told that if she could not get a copy of her license, she would not be allowed to work. On August 20, 2004, Ms. Adams worked in the school clinic unsupervised from 7:30am to 8:50am. Staff called the Texas Board of Nursing and discovered there was no record of Ms. Adams ever being issued a nursing license in the State of Texas. Ms. Adams stated that she was licensed in California and assumed that made her licensed in Texas. Ms. Adams was terminated from employment on August 20, 2004. The case was referred to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office, Longview, Texas.

Published in the July 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 3

Alejandro R. Rodriguez secured employment as a LVN with a long term care facility in Brownsville, Texas, on December 20, 2005. On January 24, 2006, while the Director of Nursing (DON) was reviewing the new hire personnel files, he conducted a criminal history check on Mr. Rodriguez and found that he had a record. The DON also checked the Board web site and was unable to find a license for Mr. Rodriguez. The DON contacted Mr. Rodriguez and requested that he bring a copy of his license. The DON also telephoned the board office to verify Mr. Rodriguez’s license and was told that no license exists for Mr. Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez was terminated from employment on January 24, 2006, and the information was reported to the board. The case was referred to the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office, Brownsville, Texas.

Published in the October 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 4

Stacey Wright McCoy obtained employment as a licensed vocational nurse with a staffing agency in Frisco, Texas, and worked from April 7, 2004, through June 11, 2005. Staff noticed that they did not have a copy of Ms. McCoy's nursing license in her personnel file and requested a copy which was not provided by Ms. McCoy. Staff went online to the Board of Nurse Examiners' web site and could not locate a license in the State of Texas for Ms. McCoy. Ms. McCoy informed her employer that she had a New Jersey nursing license; however, a copy of the license was not provided. Staff went online to the New Jersey Board of Nursing's web site but could not locate a license under her married or maiden name. Ms. McCoy was terminated from employment on June 11, 2005 and the information was reported to the Board. The Board referred the case to the Collin County District Attorney's Office, Sherman, Texas.

Published in the October 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 4

On July 26, 2004, Deanna Allen voluntarily surrendered her license to practice professional nursing in Texas. Ms. Allen did not inform her employer that she no longer held a valid license. Ms. Allen continued to practice professional nursing without a license from July 27, 2004, through November 13, 2004. She was employed as a charge nurse with a long term care facility in Longview, Texas. Ms. Allen was terminated from employment on November 13, 2004, for sleeping while on duty. The information was reported to the Board. The Board referred the case to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office, Longview, Texas.

Published in the October 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 4

Sandra E. Madubuike secured employment as a home health aide with a home health agency in Dallas, Texas, on November 18, 2004. Ms. Madubuike's employee status was changed to licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in February, 2005, and she provided services as a LVN from February 23, 2005, through August 23, 2005. On September 16, 2005, the administrator was questioned on Ms. Madubuike's licensure status. The administrator was aware that Ms. Madubuike was not licensed to practice in the State of Texas. Ms. Madubuike informed the administrator that she was eligible to take the NCLEX-RN7 through the State of California, and that she had an interim permit from the Board of Registered Nursing, Sacramento, Califonia. The Board referred the case to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, Dallas, Texas.

Published in the October 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 4

Linda Arenivar secured employment as a registered nurse with a staffing agency in Fort Worth, Texas. Ms. Arenivar practiced as a professional nurse from August 31, 2005, through October 2005, at three flu clinics, giving flu and pneumonia vaccines. Staff discovered that Ms. Arenivar did not hold a RN or LVN license but was a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) whose certificate had expired. Ms. Arenivar was terminated from employment and the information was referred to the Board. The Board referred the case to the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, Fort Worth, Texas.

Published in the October 2006 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 37, No. 4

On March 27, 2006, Angela Cox applied for a registered nurse position with a hospital in Greenville, Texas. Ms. Cox provided the hospital with an Arizona license number. When the hospital contacted the Arizona Board, the social security number and date of birth provided by Ms. Cox did not match their licensee. Ms. Cox also told the hospital that she had a license from New York, but would not produce the license. Ms. Cox then provided the hospital with information for a Tennessee license, which also did not correspond to her social security number and date of birth. Ms. Cox was not hired for the position and the information was submitted to the Board. On April 6, 2006, Angela Cox submitted an application for licensure by endorsement to the office of the Board. She indicated on her application that she held a current nurse license from the State of Georgia. A temporary permit was issued based on her application. On April 9, 2006, the temporary permit issued to Ms. Cox was canceled and is no longer valid. On March 28, 2006, Angela Cox secured employment as a registered nurse with a staffing agency in Paris, Texas. On April 1, 2006, Ms. Cox was assigned to work as a registered nurse with a long term care facility. The agency attempted to verify licensure on the Board's web site and could not find a record. Ms. Cox provided them with a license number for her Arizona license; however, when they checked with the Arizona Board, the social security number and date of birth did not match. Ms. Cox then told them that she had filled out the wrong paperwork. She asserted that it was Tennessee, not Arizona, and she provided a different number for her Tennessee license. When staff contacted the Tennessee Board, the social security number, date of birth, and education did not match. The agency verified that the Angela J. Cox licensed in Arizona and Tennessee was not the same Angela Cox that they had hired. Ms. Cox was terminated from employment and the information was submitted to the Board. The Board referred the case to the Lamar County District Attorney's Office, Paris, Texas.