Fake nurse escapes jail time after working at medical centre without qualifications

A fake nurse who treated patients at a New South Wales family practice has escaped jail time.

Belinda Elwell, 38, started working at Richmond Marketplace Medical Centre in October 2020 despite having no formal qualifications.

She told the clinic she was a registered nurse and from October 13, 2020 to December 7, 2020 she worked 14 shifts.

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While working at the clinic, Elwell attended to patients' dressings, took blood samples, administered immunisations and vaccinations by injection, and performed electrocardiograms.

When asked by the clinic for a copy of her Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia registration, she provided a false number on a sticky note.

Elwell resigned on December 8, 2020 after the centre requested a copy of her registration certificate.

She faced court today on 16 counts of claiming to be a medical practitioner.

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A Magistrate today slammed her actions, saying it was "deliberate deceit".

"There was a real risk to those patients as a result of the fact you were not qualified in the role," the Magistrate said.

Elwell's lawyer told the court she had been undertaking a TAFE course in care and "had some training in general first aid" when she pretended to be a nurse at the medical centre.

Elwell escaped jail time but was fined $3000, with half to be paid to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

The 38-year-old was also ordered to pay professional costs of $7200.

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AHPRA CEO Martin Fletcher said he hoped today's outcome sent a strong message that pretending to be a registered health practitioner had significant consequences.

"We are committed to ensuring that such behaviour is dealt with and will act to protect the public," he said.