New Jersey's attorney general is issuing a notice and order of immediate license rescission to nurses whose license application included credentials from one of several now-closed Florida nursing schools alleged to have sold fake nursing degrees and transcripts to thousands of aspiring nurses, many of them minority immigrants.
The New Jersey orders of license rescission give the nurse thirty days to submit evidence that they earned the disputed nursing education credits and degree. The New Jersey Board of Nursing explains its actions in this press release:
The Division of Consumer Affairs is aware that federal authorities in Florida have filed charges alleging a fraudulent scheme to create an illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses. The Board of Nursing is reviewing available information regarding those charges. The Board cannot, however, comment on whether any individual holding a nursing license in New Jersey is or is not the subject of any pending board investigation.
If you are a New Jersey nurse with credentials from one of the involved Florida schools, prepare to make an effective defense of your New Jersey nursing license. Retain premier New Jersey professional license defense representation for your nursing license issues relating to the Florida nursing school fraud scandal. New Jersey professional license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's License Defense Team are ready to carry the fight on your behalf with licensing officials, schools, and employers. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now.
Florida's Nursing School Fraud Scandal
A Department of Health & Human Services investigation named Operation Nightingale led the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami to file criminal fraud charges against more than two dozen Florida nursing school officials. Two of those defendant school officials were Burlington County, New Jersey residents accused of selling fake degrees and transcripts from one of these Florida nursing schools:
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach;
- Palm Beach School of Nursing;
- Sacred Heart International Institute;
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy;
- Siena College; and
- Quisqueya School of Nursing called Sunshine Academy.
New Jersey Licensing Board Investigation Notices
The New Jersey attorney general notices to involved nurses are in the form of a public notice and order. The New Jersey notices and orders recite the investigation licensing officials made to support their allegations of fraudulent credentials. But the notices also give the accused nurse the opportunity to contest the charges.
New Jersey's notices follow similar notices nationwide. A public report indicates that nearly half of state licensing boards nationwide are already investigating whether nurses licensed in their state have suspect credentials from one of the closed Florida nursing schools. Some of those state licensing boards have already notified licensees that they are under investigation, which could lead to prompt license suspension and revocation. Many other boards have publicly acknowledged that they are investigating. If you have suspect credentials from one of the closed Florida nursing schools, the New Jersey Board of Nursing may soon be notifying you of disciplinary action.
New Jersey Nursing License Authority
The New Jersey nursing board has authority for its notices. The New Jersey Board of Nursing Law authorizes not only licensing and license renewals but also investigation, suspension, and revocation of nursing licenses. Under New Jersey Board of Nursing Law Section 45:11-37g., one of the grounds for license suspension and revocation is “[t]o obtain or attempt to obtain by fraud a license or renewal thereof or a certificate of accreditation or a renewal thereof under this act.” New Jersey's Board of Nursing will use this section and related law to initiate disciplinary action against any nurse it suspects of using fraudulent Florida nursing school credentials for New Jersey licensure.
New Jersey Nurse Employer Notices
Your New Jersey employer, whether a hospital, clinic, or other provider of nursing services, may also be investigating your credentials from one of the closed Florida nursing schools. While state boards must protect the public, employers have the responsibility to ensure the integrity of their nursing services. If your employer believes your credentials are fraudulent, then you can expect your employer to notify you, threatening your suspension and termination.
Premier New Jersey License Defense Services
Your best move to fight the Florida nursing school fraud scandal is to retain skilled and experienced license defense attorney services. Professional license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento has helped hundreds of New Jersey professionals and professionals nationwide to address and overcome their professional license issues. Trust attorney Lento for your best outcome to your Florida nursing school fraud issues, whether with the state board, your employer, or your nursing school. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for New Jersey nursing license defense.
