Elizabeth Rainwater, a 54-year-old former nurse, stands accused of continuing to practice nursing without a license and diverting controlled substances from a Franklin nursing home, according to multiple reports. The WKRN news team detailed that Rainwater was investigated after a tip from the Tennessee Department of Health to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Medicaid Fraud Control Division in November 2024. Despite surrendering her Registered Nurse license as part of a plea deal in August 2024, it was discovered that she apparently continued to work at a nursing home till September 10, 2024.
During her unauthorized practice, Rainwater is said to have taken opioids and other controlled substances from residents in the facility. On June 4, Rainwater was indicted by a Williamson County grand jury on one count of impersonating a licensed professional and 19 counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance. WSMV added that Rainwater was taken into custody last Friday, with assistance from several law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force and the Smyrna Police Department.
Rainwater is currently being held in the Williamson County Jail under a $40,000 bond. NewsChannel5 reported that the investigation into her activities started following a tip to the TBI, which unveiled the fraudulent activities leading to her indictment. The nature of the plea deal that precipitated the surrender of Rainwater's RN license was not clarified in reports.
None of the reports indicate whether residents suffered direct harm due to Rainwater's alleged misconduct. The TBI has not released further details about the case at this time, and the agencies involved in the arrest have not provided additional comments on the ongoing legal proceedings. The indictment marks a serious charge in the healthcare profession, where trust and licensure are paramount for patient safety and ethical practice.
