A Shreveport nursing home social worker is under arrest for posing as a licensed nurse for over 1,000 hours using the identity of an LPN with her same name.
Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Detective Mike King says while pretending to be a nurse, 59-year-old Sandra Martin took on some vital, and potentially dangerous roles.
“She administered medication, checked vital signs throughout the day, and handled prescriptions once they were called in,” said King.
She allegedly treated over 100 patients during her time as a nurse.
Martin was already being paid more than the facility’s licensed nurses in her current position, and King says they suspect she posed as a nurse to cash in on some overtime opportunities.
“She kind of made a little more than most of the LPNs there because she was getting paid at time-and-a-half at her hourly rate as a social worker,” said King.
Upon being arrested, King says Martin admitted to working as a nurse, but refused to answer further questions and demanded a lawyer.
King says as of now it does not appear that her fraudulent nursing led to any complications or injuries, but it certainly had the potential lead to disaster.
“Something could have gone wrong, and it could have been pretty dangerous,” said King. “That was kind of our concern, and why we started the investigation. Knowing that she had access to treat patients there, if something were to go wrong it could have really gone south.”
Martin has been charged with forgery, making false statements concerning employment in nursing, and violating the law on professions and occupations.
