Montana's Board of Nursing is very likely doing as other state licensing boards across the country have done, working to identify nurses holding fraudulent credentials from several Florida nursing schools closed in connection with Operation Nightingale allegations of a massive fraud scheme.
Nurses licensed and practicing in Montana under the closed schools' suspect credentials need skilled and experienced license defense representation. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now to retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team for help fighting your Montana nursing license issues.
Operation Nightingale Fraud Scheme Allegations
Public acknowledgments from numerous state officials indicate that state nursing boards are working with FBI agents on the Operation Nightingale investigation into the alleged massive Florida nursing school fraud scheme. Criminal fraud charges filed in federal court allege the sale of thousands of bogus nursing credentials from these closed Florida schools:
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach;
- Sacred Heart International Institute;
- Siena College;
- Palm Beach School of Nursing;
- Quisqueya School of Nursing, also called Sunshine Academy; and
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy.
Nationwide Nursing Impacts
Nurses nationwide are feeling the fraud scandal's impact, according to nursing journals and media stories. Thousands of nurses with suspect credentials from the closed Florida schools are now facing their state licensing boards and answering to their employers. Some nurses are also answering to other nursing schools from which they earned course credits and degrees, after allegedly using their fake credentials for admission and enrollment. The scandal threatens nursing licenses, jobs, and degrees nationwide in the middle of unprecedented nursing shortages.
Nationwide Nursing Board Investigations
State nursing boards across the nation have publicly acknowledged not just license investigations but also license revocations for nurses holding the Florida schools' fake credentials. Those state boards are garnering strong support from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. If you are a Montana nurse with suspect Florida nursing school credentials, prepare to defend state license disciplinary proceedings.
Montana Board of Nursing Investigation Authority
Montana nursing officials have statutory authority to revoke the licenses of nurses holding fraudulent credentials. Section 2-15-1734 of Montana's Nurse Practice Act creates the Montana Board of Nursing to license Montana nurses for patient and public protection. Section 37-8-101 requires nurses seeking to practice in Montana to submit evidence that their credentials meet the state's standards. Section 37-8-443 makes it a misdemeanor for a person to “practice nursing … under cover of any diploma, license, or record illegally or fraudulently obtained or signed or issued unlawfully or under fraudulent representation.” Montana's Board of Nursing has the authority to revoke the license of any nurse holding its nursing license under fraudulent credentials.
Montana Nurse Employer Investigations
Montana healthcare employers have their own obligations to protect patients and the public. Those obligations clearly extend to cooperating with state and federal officials to identify and hold accountable nurses who offer fraudulent credentials for licensure and employment. Employers nationwide have terminated the employment of nurses who are unable to prove the credibility of their suspect credentials from the involved Florida nursing schools.
Premier Nurse License Defense Available in Montana
Suspect credentials from one of the closed Florida nursing schools place you at risk of discipline before the Montana Board of Nursing. Retain the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento to help you fight your Montana professional licensing issues. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now.
