Nurses licensed and employed in California may be receiving notices from the California Board of Registered Nursing, their nursing employer, or their nursing school alleging that their nursing education may be fraudulent.
Premier professional license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's License Defense Team are available for your representation in California if your nursing license, employment, or education are at risk because of the Florida nursing school fraud scandal. Get skilled and experienced license defense attorney representation for the best outcome to your nursing license issues. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now.
Florida's Nursing Schools Fraud Scandal
The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges in criminal fraud charges that several Florida nursing schools sold fraudulent associate's degrees and school transcripts to over 7,600 individuals, including many immigrants. Those individuals generally went on to pursue or earn nursing degrees from other schools, including schools in California. Many nursing school graduates with credentials from the Florida schools also passed the national nurse licensing exam for a California nursing license, to take nursing jobs with California employers.
California nurses who attended or received credentials from one of the involved Florida schools are now receiving state board, employer, or school notices threatening their nursing degree, license, and employment. You should expect one or more of those notices if you are a California nurse with credentials from:
- Siena College,
- Sacred Heart International Institute,
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy,
- Quisqueya School of Nursing also known as Sunshine Academy,
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach, or
- Palm Beach School of Nursing.
California Board of Registered Nursing Notice
The California Board of Registered Nursing licenses nurses for practice in California, under the state's Nursing Practice Act. The California Board also investigates, suspends, and revokes nursing licenses for violations of nursing standards, including fraudulent qualifications. California Business & Professions Code Section 2761 specifically authorizes the Board to take disciplinary action against licensed nurses for “[p]rocuring his or her certificate or license by fraud, misrepresentation, or mistake.” The Board's disciplinary proceedings begin with written notice to the accused nurse.
California Nursing Employer Response
California hospitals, clinics, and other sites employing licensed nurses are also investigating nurses who hold educational credentials from the involved Florida nursing schools. If you have not received the state board's notice, your nursing employer may notify you of its own investigation. Your employer may demand that you provide proof of your nursing coursework, clinical hours, or other education at the involved Florida schools. Or your employer may simply suspend or terminate your employment. Your nursing employer may also decide to notify the state board of your questionable credentials.
Your Response: Retain a Nursing License Defense Attorney
Get skilled and experienced professional license defense attorney representation if the California Board of Registered Nursing, your nursing employer, or your nursing school notifies, questioning your credentials from one of the involved Florida schools. The Premier Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm is available for your representation in California for your best outcome to nursing license issues. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now.
