Health Teacher's Nursing Credentials Bogus, PHCC Says

NEW PORT RICHEY - For nearly 18 years, Sandra Ranell Wilbanks taught technical health classes at Pasco-Hernando Community College under the guise that she was a registered nurse.

She provided documentation that seemed to show she was licensed to practice nursing in Florida, college officials said Thursday.

During an accreditation review last month, however, when officials asked Wilbanks for updated paperwork, that they discovered she was not a registered nurse.

Wilbanks, 59, of Shady Hills, was arrested Wednesday at her home on charges of scheming to defraud, forgery and practicing nursing without a license. She was released from the Land O' Lakes Jail later that day after posting $15,000 bail.

College officials said Thursday they were "shocked" and saddened that Wilbanks apparently misrepresented her credentials and falsely described herself as a registered nurse on her business cards. As an instructor and coordinator of technical health programs at PHCC, Wilbanks was not required by law to have a nursing license, but college policy does mandate it, spokeswoman Lucy Miller said.

"She did supply us with a license that seemed authentic," Miller said. "She did provide us with updated licenses. ... We actually put it out on a table and compared it to other licenses, and it looked very authentic. She did a good job."

Wilbanks did not teach courses within the college's RN, Licensed Practical Nursing or Certified Nursing Assistant programs, Miller said, adding that students who received credit for courses Wilbanks taught are "fully capable of performing their duties in the work force." Many are required to pass certification exams.

College officials said they had no reason to suspect Wilbanks was not a licensed nurse until May, during a credentials review for re-accreditation. A human resources official asked Wilbanks to provide an updated license several times before Wilbanks said she "might have let her licensing expire," according to Pasco County Sheriff's Office reports.

Wilbanks then notified officials she intended to retire, although she was not scheduled to do so for several years.

PHCC officials attempted to verify Wilbanks' nursing license with the state Department of Health and the Florida State Board of Nursing and found the information she provided was invalid, sheriff's officials said.

Miller said the license number Wilbanks provided was assigned to another person.

"She was such an incredible instructor, and across the board everyone was surprised by this," Miller said. "Because we knew her so well, we thought it was a clerical error. ... She was a longtime employees, and we trusted her, and there was no reason to suspect."

PHCC officials reported the discrepancy to the sheriff's office and to the Florida Department of Health, which began a joint investigation. Health department investigator Brian Bilbrey told college officials the information Wilbanks provided was phony.

In addition, records show that Wilbanks' license was revoked by the North Carolina Board of Nursing in 1989, investigators said. Calls to the North Carolina agency were not immediately returned.

PHCC now verifies licenses through the Internet, but the technology was not available when Wilbanks was hired in 1990, Miller said.

"We didn't have all of the checks and balances," Miller said. "We have current guidelines in place so this won't happen again."

Miller stressed that Wilbanks' academic credentials were verified.

"This is a first for us," Miller said. "It's painful, and we want the community to know we take this seriously. We found this error in the process of self-review."

Linda McDonald, spokeswoman for the Florida Retirement System, said members who are found guilty of a felony crime such as fraud forfeit their benefits. There is an opportunity to appeal.

Wilbanks did not return phone calls Thursday.