Fake SA nurse a danger to elderly: judge

An Adelaide woman who endangered the lives of vulnerable patients by posing as a registered nurse has been jailed for at least 14 months.

Jennifer Anne Reed, 65, pleaded guilty to seven counts of deception after lying about her qualifications at aged care homes across SA between 2009 and 2014.

The court heard Reed, whose offending earned her more than $340,000, faked a registration certificate and references to assume the identity of a registered nurse with a similar name.

In the District Court on Friday, Judge Paul Muscat said Reed had betrayed the trust of elderly patients and placed some at risk by administering medication to them.

He jailed Reed for four years but said he would impose a lenient non-parole period taking into account her age and poor health.

"You not only deceived your employers but worse, the aged residents and their families," he said.

"Every resident at those nursing homes was entitled to the professional care of a qualified registered nurse, not an impostor like you were."

The court heard Reed managed to become director of nursing at one of the Adelaide care homes but did not last the probation period.

The facility's acting manager raised concerns with health authorities, prompting an investigation, but Reed obtained further work through a nursing agency.

She was arrested in NSW in November 2014 while posing as a registered nurse at a regional care home and received a suspended sentence.

Judge Muscat said Reed, who had a history of criminal deceptive behaviour, was motivated to offend by her "dire financial circumstances".

"Many people struggle financially or find themselves in perilous economic situations," he said.

"They do not, however, resort to committing crimes to get themselves out of financial trouble as you have chosen to do so."