Rhode Island Nurse Surrenders License for Submitting Falsified COVID Vaccine Card
GoLocalProv News Team
Rhode Island Nurse Surrenders License for Submitting Falsified COVID Vaccine Card
Rhode Island Department of Health records show that registered nurse Athena Fidas was working as a Nurse Care Manager at Rhode Island Primary Care Physicians Group, when she presented her employer with what she said was her vaccination card — and later admitted it was fake.
On August 15, the Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education signed a consent decree — signed by Fidas — for the voluntary surrender of her nursing license.
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About Case
According to the consent decree, Fidas presented Rhode Island Primary Care Physicians Group with a “vaccination” card on August 30, 2021.
“On or about October 1, 2021, respondent was working per diem at Kent Hospital, located at 455 Toll Gate Road, Warwick, RI, 02886 in the Intensive Care Unit,” according to state records. “On or about October 21, 2021, responded admitted to obtaining a falsified covid vaccine identified card and was terminated from Kent Hospital."
In January 2022, the Board of Nurse Registration found that Fidas’ “continued unrestricted licensure in Rhode lsland [presented] a danger to the health and safety to the public.”
Her license was officially surrendered this week.
License Can Be Reinstated
According to the consent decree, Fidas can get her license back -- if she takes the required steps.
“Respondent voluntarily agrees to the surrender of her Rhode Island license as a registered nurse until such time as she gets vaccinated, the vaccine mandate is lifted, or she qualifies for a medical exemption to the mandate, whichever comes first,” says RIDOH. “The period during which Respondent’s registered nurse license is suspended shall henceforth be referred to as the ’surrender period.’”
Should Fidas seek reinstatement, RIDOH says she has to submit a written request to the Board — and appear personally before the Board to “provide an oral presentation in support of her request for the reinstatement of her license.”
“Respondent shall bear the burden of proving that she possesses sufficient knowledge, judgment, skills, abilities, and character qualifications (including but not limited to specific reference to the Nursing Code of Ethics character qualifications) to practice as a registered nurse,” said RIDOH.
Fidas refused comment when reached by GoLocal.