Fake Nurse Faces 27 Years After Morphine Error Nearly Fatal for Hospice Patient
April Guadalupe Hernandez, a certified nursing assistant who allegedly impersonated registered nurses while providing hospice care, now faces 19 criminal counts and up to 27 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
According to the New Mexico Department of Justice, Hernandez operated under stolen nurse identities while providing unauthorized care to hospice patients. The most alarming incident involved her mis-transcribing a medication order that nearly resulted in a fatal morphine overdose for a vulnerable hospice patient.
“To exploit trusting patients in their most vulnerable moments is unconscionable. These charges send a clear message: the New Mexico Department of Justice will not tolerate those who endanger the safety of patients or betray the trust of our healthcare system. Anyone posing as a healthcare provider in New Mexico will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as we continue to fight to protect those who are in their most vulnerable state,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
The most alarming aspect of this case involves a medication error that nearly resulted in a patient death. Hernandez allegedly mis-transcribed a medication order, leading to a potentially lethal morphine overdose for a hospice patient. This incident underscores the critical importance of proper medication management and the dangers of unlicensed individuals performing nursing duties.
The charges against Hernandez include identity theft, practicing nursing without a license, abuse of a resident, and violations of the Nursing Practice Act. Additionally, she faces fraud charges related to approximately $40,000 in fraudulent billing.
The investigation was conducted by New Mexico’s Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau, highlighting how vulnerable populations like hospice patients face particular risks from healthcare fraud.
Nurse.org will continue to update this article as this case moves through the legal system.
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