Kansas state nursing board officials share responsibility with other state and federal officials to investigate nurses who have suspect credentials from Florida nursing schools closed in the wake of a nationwide fraud scandal rocking the nursing profession.
If you are a Kansas nurse with credentials from one of the suspect Florida nursing schools, retain the Lento Law Firm's premier License Defense Team to help you address your employment and nursing license issues. The Lento Law Firm's Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento are available in Kansas to help you defend your nursing credentials. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for the qualified, skilled, and experienced defense team you need.
Florida Nursing School Fraud Scandal Rocks the Profession
Unprecedented nursing shortages had already stressed the profession before the massive Florida nursing school fraud scandal further rocked nursing. Nursing journals and popular press indicate nationwide impacts from schemes allegedly selling thousands of fake nursing degrees and transcripts. The federal FBI and HHS Operation Nightingale investigating the scandal led to federal criminal fraud charges against officials from these now-closed Florida nursing schools:
- Siena College;
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy;
- Quisqueya School of Nursing called Sunshine Academy;
- Sacred Heart International Institute;
- Palm Beach School of Nursing; and
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach.
The scandal's impact, though, goes well beyond the above schools and their defendant officials. Thousands of nurses buying the schools' allegedly fraudulent credentials may have used the credentials nationwide for nursing licenses and jobs across the nation. Those licenses and jobs are now at risk. Some nurses have also used the allegedly fake degrees and transcripts to gain admission to other nursing schools. The fraud allegations also put their further nursing education at risk.
Nationwide Nursing Board Investigations
The Kansas Board of Nursing shares the same responsibility and authority as other state nursing boards across the nation to ensure the credibility of its licensed nurses' credentials. The NCSBN national organization representing state licensing officials across the country made a press release declaring state board support for Operation Nightingale enforcement. State licensing boards around the nation have reportedly investigated and revoked the licenses of nurses with fraudulent credentials from the Florida schools. Kansas nurses with suspect Florida nursing school credentials need to prepare to defend state license disciplinary proceedings and their Kansas nursing employment. Involved nurses may need to remind licensing officials that the now-closed Florida nursing schools had previously provided genuine education to many nurses.
Kansas Board of Nursing Investigation Authority
Kansas's Nurse Practice Act and Regulations, like similar nursing laws across the nation, authorize the state's Board of Nursing to enact and enforce educational requirements for a Kansas nursing license. The Nurse Practice Act's Section 65-1115 requires nurses to certify their educational credentials. The Act's Section 65-1120 then expressly authorizes the Board of Nursing to suspend or revoke the license of any nurse "guilty of fraud or deceit in practicing nursing or in procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice nursing." The same Section 65-1120, though, requires the Board of Nursing to follow procedures safeguarding nurses who dispute the disciplinary charges.
Kansas Nurse Employer Investigations
Employers of nurses nationwide, including hospitals, clinics, and home health services, have been notifying nurses who hold suspect Florida nursing school credentials. The notices, in some cases, have suspended or terminated nurses but may also allow accused nurses to defend and prove their credentials. Kansas nurse employers are sure to follow similar procedures, including cooperating with state licensing officials and federal investigators.
License Defense Services for Kansas Nurses
Kansas nurses facing licensing, employment, or school issues relating to the Florida nursing school scandal need qualified, skilled, and experienced license defense attorney representation. The Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento are available in Kansas to help you manage your professional licensing issues, just as they have helped hundreds of professionals nationwide. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now to protect your Kansas nursing license, job, and career.
