Woman sentenced to 3 years for posing as a nurse

Associated Press

CANTON

An Ohio woman is headed to prison after admitting she impersonated a nurse when she wasn’t licensed, didn’t have a nursing degree and hadn’t been hired.

A Stark County judge sentenced Kristin Sweet to three years in prison, The (Canton) Repository reported. She may be released after 90 days to be treated at a correction center.

“I thought it was appropriate,” said Hope Konovsky, an assistant Stark County prosecutor. “It is very serious what she did; on the other hand, she clearly has some mental-health and [prescription] drug-addiction issues. I hope this will be a wake-up call for her [because] she’s never been to prison before.”

The 31-year-old Alliance woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to identity fraud, deception to obtain a dangerous drug and practicing as a nurse without a license.

She faces similar charges in Crawford County. A message seeking comment has been left for Sweet’s attorney.

Sweet had applied for a nursing job at Brookdale Senior Living Facility. Konovsky said she administered the narcotic, Tramadol, to nursing-home residents while supervised.

The nursing home had been waiting for a background check, though, and hadn’t hired her, Konovsky said. Employees believed her story since she appeared on a list of potential hires, according to investigators.

No residents were harmed during the “minimal amount of time this situation occurred,” the Brentwood, Tenn.-based company said in a written statement in January.

Sweet told police she’s a nurse, but prosecutors said she listed someone else’s certification number as a licensed practical nurse on her application.

“She did know enough to go in and fool people,” Konovksy said.

Sweet apologized at her sentencing and plea hearing, the assistant prosecutor said.