Published in the January 2009 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 40, No. 1

Stephanie Marie Simpson was arrested on September 5, 2008, by the Arlington Police Department for the offense of “Forgery.” Ms. Simpson was attempting to cash a forged check bearing the name of Natalie Elaine Abels. At the time of the arrest Ms. Simpson was found in possession of several forged documents including a Temporary Driver License and an RN License which had her picture, with the name of Ms. Abels. The Arlington Police Department verified that the license number was issued to an RN who resides in Pharr, Texas and is a Hispanic male. The Arlington Police Department will pursue the case if sufficient evidence is collected to substantiate an offense of "Tampering with a Government Record."

Published in the April 2009 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 40, No. 2

Daniel Villanueva was employed in marketing during March 2008 through December 2008 with two prosthetics and orthotics companies in San Antonio, Texas. When he was hired with the first company he told them he was an LVN and used LVN after his name on his business cards. Daniel Villanueva also misrepresented himself as an LVN when he visited a local nursing home. Mr. Villanueva distributed a business card which reflected LVN, DE after his name. Mr. Villanueva is not licensed to practice vocational nursing in the State of Texas.

Published in the April 2009 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 40, No. 2

Patricia N. Britt’s license to practice vocational nursing (LVN) in the State of Texas was revoked on March 20, 2007. Patricia N. Britt secured employment as a Registered Nurse (RN) with a medical group in Richardson, Texas, on January 14, 2008. During the interview Ms. Britt misrepresented herself as an RN. Her duties included patient care and she signed her name followed by RN in the patient medical records. Ms. Britt also wore a pin with her name followed by the initials RN. Ms. Britt was terminated on January 22, 2008 due to performance problems. The case was referred to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office.

SEE ALSO: Published in the October 2008 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 39, No. 4

Published in the April 2009 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 40, No. 2

JAMIE GAYLE SMITH (GE0ORGE) Jamie Gayle Smith’s (George) license to practice professional nursing in the State of Texas was revoked on November 10, 2003. Ms. Smith secured employment as an Inside Sales Representative with a medical device sales company in Allen, Texas, on March 28, 2005. Ms. Smith submitted a resume which misrepresented her as an RN and reflected work history as an RN from November 2003 through February 2005. From March 28, 2005 until January 2006, Ms. Smith signed RN after her name and used business cards that identified her as an RN. After being notified that Ms. Smith was not currently licensed, the company allowed her to keep her job but prohibited her from using the RN title. She was instructed to use BSN only after her name. Ms. Smith was terminated on April 24, 2008, after she continued to deceive the company.

SEE ALSO: Published in the October 2008 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 39, No. 4

Published in the July 2009 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 40, No. 3

Shelia Rochelle Birt, aka: Shelia Moore, had been employed as an independent contractor for a company in Dallas since January, 2006. Her duties included providing summaries of medical records where she signed her name followed by RN. In January 2009, the company attempted to verify the nurse licensure of Ms. Birt and were unable to do so on the BON web site. The employer met with Ms. Birt concerning her nurse licensure and she presented a license indicating nurse licensure compact privilege which bore her name and license number 232604. When the license was checked on the BON web site, it was determined that the license number belonged to someone with a different name. The case was referred to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.

Published in the July 2009 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 40, No. 3

Glynda Gail Edwards, aka: Glynda Gail Watson & Glynda Gail Atkins, applied for a registered nurse position with a hospital in Plainview, Texas, on December 16, 2008. Ms. Edwards told the human resources director that she was a registered nurse and had graduated from the University of Texas. The hospital was unable to verify Ms. Edwards’ license on the BON web site. The hospital contacted the police concerning Ms. Edwards. Upon further investigation, it was determined that Ms. Edwards had nine aliases, was incarcerated twice, had an outstanding warrant for her arrest, and there was concern that she may be a potential infant abductor. The case was referred to the Plainview Police Department.

Published in the October 2009 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 40, No. 4

Yemurai Nhamoinesu and her sister were students at North Central Texas College in Gainesville. Yemurai Nhamoinesu was expelled from the nursing program for the second time during her last semester. Her sister who was also in the program, graduated in December 2007. Yemurai Nhamoinesu secured employment as a graduate vocational nurse (GVN) with a long term care facility in Plano, Texas on February 23, 2008. Yemurai Nhamoinesu used her sister’s name, GVN permit, and identifying information. On February 26, 2008, Yemurai was confronted by staff, admitted that she used her sister’s information, and confessed that she did not have a license. The case was referred to the Collin County Criminal District Attorney.

Published in the October 2009 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin, Volume 40, No. 4

Benedicta Adah was conducting skilled nursing visits in the homes of patients for a home health agency in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Adah is not licensed to practice nursing in Texas. The agency administrator was aware that Benedicta Adah had performed skilled nursing visits for patients which included wound care and insulin administration. She documented the visits which were then signed by another staff member. The administrator was sponsoring Ms. Adah and her husband in the United States while Ms. Adah tried to obtain her medical license in Texas. The agency did not have a personnel file for Ms. Adah and the administrator indicated that she was not an employee and was not paid for the visits. In addition, Channel 4 News in Dallas conducted an undercover investigation which included an interview with Ms. Adah where she misrepresented herself as a registered nurse.