Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Woman Posing as RN Arrested

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

A Sarasota woman was arrested and charged with unlicensed health care practice and criminal use of personal identification information after police say she posed falsely as a registered nurse, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports.

Kristina Balen worked at the Sarasota Arthritis Center until February, when missing medication spurred an investigation. Balen’s personnel file didn’t include any certificates or licenses, the Herald-Tribune reports.

When confronted, Balen told her office manager she had a registered nursing license under her maiden name and former married name, according to the Herald-Tribune. Florida Department of Health records show she has an active CNA license under her maiden name, the Herald-Tribune reports.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.