Illinois nurses may be receiving state Board of Nursing notices of license investigation, suspension, or revocation relating to the Florida nursing schools fraud scandal over fake degrees and fraudulent transcripts.
National professional license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's License Defense Team are representing nurses affected by the scandal nationwide, including in Illinois. Get the professional license defense services you need before the Illinois Board of Nursing and for your Illinois nursing employment. Let attorney Lento help you address your nursing license issues. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for nursing license representation in Illinois.
Florida Nursing Schools Trigger Fraud Scandal
The Department of Health & Human Services' Operation Nightingale led to criminal fraud charges against officials of these now-closed Florida nursing schools, alleging their sale of thousands of fraudulent credentials, especially to minority immigrants:
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach;
- Sacred Heart International Institute;
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy;
- Quisqueya School of Nursing, also known as Sunshine Academy;
- Palm Beach School of Nursing; and
- Sienna College.
State nursing board disciplinary officials, nursing schools, and nurse employers nationwide and in Illinois are now issuing investigation notices to nurses with suspect credentials from these Florida nursing schools. Those notices threaten to suspend and revoke licenses, terminate employment, and revoke nursing degrees. Your Illinois nursing career is at risk if you have used suspect credentials from these schools.
Illinois Board of Nursing Notices
The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation licenses Registered Professional Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), and other nursing specialists under the state's Nurse Practice Act. Section 50-65 of the Act authorizes the Illinois Board of Nursing to participate in Department disciplinary proceedings against Illinois nurses who fail to meet the state's nursing standards. Grounds for discipline include “[f]raud, deceit, or misrepresentation in applying for or procuring a license under this Act or in connection with applying for renewal of a license under this Act.”
If you used credentials from one of the suspect Florida nursing schools in your Illinois nurse licensing materials, you should anticipate a disciplinary investigation notice from the Department of Financial & Professional Regulation and the state Board of Nursing. State board notices to involved nurses are giving options to surrender licenses or prove the validity and authenticity of their suspect credentials. Retain the Lento Law Firm to help you before the Illinois Board of Nursing.
Illinois Nurse Employer Notices
Even if the Illinois Board of Nursing has not contacted you regarding your Florida nursing school credentials, your Illinois employer may suspend or terminate your employment based on the news of the fraud scandal. Employers may, though, give involved nurses the option to prove their credentials.
Premier Illinois License Defense Attorney Services
Professional license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento and his License Defense Team are ready to help you defend your Illinois nursing license and employment. They have helped hundreds of nurses and other professionals in Illinois and other states successfully address license, employment, school, and other professional license issues. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for Illinois nurse representation.
