Authorities are telling San Francisco Bay Area hospitals to be on alert after a woman was arrested for pretending to be a nurse at a San Jose medical center.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office says that 29-year-old Crystal Cook of Felton was discovered in scrubs wearing a stethoscope and a fake registered nurse badge at Valley Medical Center.
Hospital security summoned sheriff's deputies who arrested Cook Friday on suspicion of a pair of misdemeanors. Since she has been released, deputies are warning hospitals to be on the lookout.
Sheriff's Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup says it does not appear Cook, who has no medical background, was able to get into any secure areas like emergency or delivery rooms and there is no sign she treated anyone during her alleged ruse.
A Valley Med spokesperson says Cook's fake badge would not have gained her access to the more secure areas where babies or drugs are kept.
"As soon as this was brought to the nurses' attention, protocols were put in place, alerts were made," said the hospital’s Joy Alexiou. "She was apprehended the next day."
Cook was charged with impersonating a county employee and possessing a fictitious ID card.
Cook could not be reached for comment.
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