Fraudulent nurse in Del. convicted, sentenced

DELAWARE – The Delaware Department of Justice has convicted a woman of stealing the identity of a Registered Nurse to fraudulently obtain employment in nursing homes.

Last week, 38-year-old Nicole Vanhorn pleaded guilty to felony counts of identity theft and theft by false presence, as well as misdemeanor counts of offering a false instrument for filing and practicing as a registered nurse without a license.

From March 23, 2023 through September 8, 2023, we’re told Vanhorn falsely represented that she was a licensed RN, using false educational and licensing credentials to obtain conditional RN employment at a Delaware long-term care facility. She reportedly used the personal identifying information of a Pennsylvania Registered Nurse to try to obtain a Delaware RN license. She additionally submitted a false Pennsylvania nursing license to the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation.

Vanhorn was sentenced to a total of 10 years behind bars, suspended immediately for one year of supervised probation. She was also fined $500 and ordered to pay restitution.