Nurses in Indiana and nationwide may face state licensing board investigation arising out of the Florida nursing schools scandal in which federal officials allege the sale of thousands of fraudulent nursing degrees and transcripts.
If you are an Indiana-licensed nurse with suspect credentials from one of the involved Florida nursing schools, you need skilled and experienced license defense representation. National professional license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's License Defense Team are available in Indiana to help you navigate the Florida nursing school fraud scandal. Don't ignore or delay in responding to your serious nursing license issues. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for help with the nursing license discipline process and your nursing employer.
Fraud Charges in the Florida Nursing School Scandal
Federal criminal fraud charges that the U.S. Attorney's Office filed in Miami allege that more than two dozen officials at the suspect Florida nursing schools sold fraudulent degrees and transcripts to thousands of nursing students. The Department of Health & Human Services, in its Operation Nightingale investigation, claims that thousands of individuals entered other nursing schools and qualified for state licenses using fraudulent credentials from these now-closed Florida nursing schools:
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy;
- Quisqueya School of Nursing called Sunshine Academy;
- Palm Beach School of Nursing;
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach;
- Siena College; and
- Sacred Heart International Institute.
Nationwide Licensing Board Investigations
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and other sources, state licensing boards across the country are initiating and concluding investigations relating to Operation Nightingale's allegations. Those investigations place the licenses of the involved nurses at risk of suspension and revocation. Public reports reveal that officials in several states have revoked licenses or plan to do so if the involved nurses do not promptly document the credibility of their suspect credentials.
Indiana Board of Nursing Investigation Authority
Indiana's Nurse Practice Act authorizes the Indiana State Board of Nursing to license Indiana nurses who meet the Board's educational requirements and other nursing standards. The Act also authorizes the Board to adopt implementing regulations. One of those regulations, Indiana Administrative Code Rule 25-23-1-27, expressly prohibits practicing “nursing under cover of any diploma or license or record illegally or fraudulently obtained or assigned or issued unlawfully or under fraudulent representation.” The state's Nurse Practice Act includes an identical prohibition. The Indiana State Board of Nursing has plenty of authority to pursue license investigation and revocation for fraudulent credentials obtained in the Florida nursing school scandal.
Indiana Employer Investigations
Indiana healthcare employers must likewise ensure the qualifications of their nurses to protect the public and their patients. Healthcare employers nationwide have been notifying their nurses with suspect credentials from the involved Florida nursing schools. Those notices have, in some instances, suspended or terminated nurse employment. In other instances, the notices give the involved nurses the opportunity to present evidence proving the credibility of their credentials.
Indiana License Defense Attorney Available
National professional license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's Defense Team are available in Indiana for your representation relating to the Florida nursing school scandal. They have successfully helped hundreds of professionals nationwide overcome serious professional licensing issues like those involved in the nursing school fraud scandal. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now to retain premier Indiana nursing license defense services.
