Naughty nurse dressed up references

The references letters were already generous, the nurse made them glowing

A nurse has admitted an elaborate scheme to falsify already generous employment references for positions overseas.

But his ruse was uncovered and now he's finding it impossible to get a job.

Conrado Santos applied for two positions in Queensland, Australia, last year and successfully asked two line managers at Waikato Hospital to provide written references.

Mr Santos altered their written words and set up fake email accounts purporting to belong to his two managers, from which he sent his polished-up versions.

He also created a false email account for one of the perspective employers and told the two line managers to email their references there.

Mr Santos then picked them up, embellished them and sent them on.

He removed references to previous misconduct over abusing sick leave entitlements and turned the straightforward musings of his line managers into purple prose.

However, an eagle-eyed employee at one of the Queensland hospitals smelled a rat, contacted one of the line managers at Waikato Hospital and the game was up.

Mr Santos was hauled into a meeting with his bosses and his Waikato job was "terminated".

At a Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal hearing in Wellington today, he admitted four charges of professional misconduct.

He was censured by the tribunal, fined $1000 and ordered to complete a Nurses' Union code of conduct programme before he returned to the profession.

Mr Santos told the tribunal he'd let his practising certificate lapse as, once fired, he couldn't pick up other work, but he was hopeful of nursing again.

He offered no excuses for his wrongdoing, saying he became "corrupted".

"I worked very hard to be a good nurse but in the process I neglected to be a good person as well," Mr Santos said.

"I'm more than sorry for what I have done."

Matthew McClelland, QC, the lawyer for the prosecuting professional conduct committee, said Mr Santos' scheme demonstrated a lack of integrity.

"His conduct was deceitful and deceptive and was carried out with the full purpose of drawing a benefit or advantage."

Mr McClelland also noted the folly of Mr Santos' actions, as the original references were favourable anyway.

While Mr Santos was contrite today, a letter he wrote to Waikato Hospital management last year spoke of feeling frustrated at work. Mr Santos didn't think he was getting the recognition he deserved.

In another letter, to the Queensland hospital that uncovered his false references, he said he offended with a "heavy heart".

Purple prose references:

• Original reference said: "Conrado had a formal warning... issued on September 25, 2013, for inappropriate sick leave usage. His use of sick leave has been minimal since then and it's evident he had clearly made an effort to turn this around."
Altered reference said: "I don't think he's had any [disciplinary problems] yet. He is a good follower and has the quality to became a dependable leader with good training."

• Original reference said: "Conrado works well within the HDU team. He will support his junior colleagues. Conrado's time-management skills are very good."
Altered reference said: "To summarise Conrado's performance, it can be put simply into being independent, dependable and efficient."