Hamilton police have arrested a Mississauga woman who allegedly worked as a nurse at long-term care facilities when she didn’t have the proper qualifications.
Officers launched an investigation in May 2023 when they discovered a nurse employed at a long-term care home had falsified her documents in order to be hired.
Police’s financial crimes unit says the woman forged legitimate nurse documents by changing the name on the documents to her own.
An investigation revealed that the accused had held positions at three long-term care facilities between October 2022 and May 2023.
A spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of Long-Term Care confirmed the accused worked at Arbour Creek Care Centre and Heritage Green Nursing Home in Hamilton, as well as Eatonville Care Centre in Toronto.
The ministry says the long-term care homes were issued compliance orders and written notifications, which have since been complied with.
Oladoyin (Deborah) Farominiyi, 29, is charged with four counts of using forged documents, false pretence over $5,000, and fraud over $5,000.
The case’s lead detective said there is no evidence Farominiyi hurt anyone while she pretended to be a qualified nurse.
There has been no evidence any of the patients she cared for were hurt as a result, but police say at least one of the homes have made allegations about that to the province.
Farominiyi has no evidence of any prior medical training. But police say she was able to maintain employment as a nurse at three different long-term care homes for seven months.
Researcher and advocate Vivian Stamatopoulos says she has documented cases of personal support workers faking credentials to get jobs at long-term care homes, but this is the first time she has ever heard of a fake nurse.
“It adds a different layer of danger when you have a nurse in this position because nurses are the ones that are in charge of medications, and they have much more responsibility,” said Stamatopoulos.
Farominiyi has been released from custody pending a future court date.
Police say the Ministry of Long-Term Care and the College of Nurses of Ontario has been contacted and the investigation continues.
The College of Nurses of Ontario has placed Farominiyi on a list of known unregistered practitioners in the Toronto area.
Police say their investigation is ongoing and the province says it will continue to support that investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Ben Adams at 905-540-5300 or Staff Sgt. Christian Mukendi at 905-546-3841.