Reports in New Mexico press outlets, national nursing journals, and media across the nation warn nurses of state nursing board investigations into suspect credentials from Florida nursing schools closed in the wake of a nationwide fraud scandal.
New Mexico nurses facing job issues of state board licensing proceedings because of suspect Florida nursing school credentials need skilled license defense attorney representation. Retain the Lento Law Firm's premier License Defense Team to help you fight your nursing license and employment issues in New Mexico. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for the help you need from the Lento Law Firm's Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento.
The Massive Florida Nursing School Fraud Scandal
Federal FBI agents and Health & Human Services officials pursued the Operation Nightingale enforcement action that led to federal criminal fraud charges against officials from these 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 federal criminal charges allege that more than two dozen officials from the above schools sold thousands of fake associate's degrees and transcripts to aspiring nurses, many of them minority immigrants. Unprecedented nursing shortages were already hitting the profession before the massive fraud scheme closed these Florida nursing schools.
Nationwide Impacts of the Nursing School Fraud Scandal
The Florida nursing school fraud scandal's impact has had a much greater reach, though, than just closing the above schools and criminally charging their defendant officials. Nurses buying the allegedly fraudulent credentials gained nursing licenses and jobs around the country. Other nurses allegedly used the fake degrees and transcripts for admission to other nursing schools where they earned bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing. Those licenses, jobs, and degrees are now at risk in the huge scandal.
Nationwide Nursing Board Investigations
NCSBN, a national organization representing state licensing boards, has declared strong state board support for enforcement actions against not only the involved school officials but also nurses holding state licenses under fraudulent credentials. Public statements and private information confirm that state licensing boards have been investigating and revoking licenses of nurses with fraudulent credentials from the suspect Florida nursing schools. New Mexico's Board of Nursing is sure to be among the state licensing boards protecting private patients and public interests against the fraud scandal's spreading impact. Be ready to defend state license disciplinary proceedings and your New Mexico nursing employment if you hold credentials from one of the now-closed Florida nursing schools.
New Mexico Board of Nursing Investigation Authority
Section 61-3-5 of New Mexico's Nursing Practice Act requires a New Mexico Board of Nursing license to practice nursing in the state. The Act's Section 61-3-8 creates the Board of Nursing specifically to license and discipline New Mexico nurses. Section 61-3-10 authorizes the Board of Nursing to adopt the required educational standards. Section 61-3-13 requires nurses seeking a license to certify their educational credentials. New Mexico's Uniform Licensing Act sets forth the procedures by which the Board of Nursing may suspend or revoke a nurse's license for fraud procuring a license. Those procedures give the accused nurse the opportunity to defend the charge and prove the suspect credentials to be authentic.
New Mexico Nurse Employer Investigations
New Mexico hospitals, clinics, home health services, and other employers of nurses share the interest of nurse employers nationwide in ensuring their sound credentials. Like the state licensing boards, employers nationwide have been requiring nurses holding suspect credentials from the closed Florida schools to prove their credentials' credibility. Employers have also been suspending and terminating nurse employment, and referring involved nurses to state licensing officials.
License Defense for New Mexico Nurses
The Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento are available to help you with your New Mexico professional licensing issues. The Lento Law Firm Team has helped hundreds of professionals nationwide preserve and protect their licenses, jobs, and careers against misconduct allegations. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now.
