A healthcare industry press report discloses that North Dakota's Board of Nursing has already suspended the license of one nurse allegedly holding fraudulent credentials from one of the several Florida nursing schools identified in the massive Operation Nightingale fraud scheme.
If you are a North Dakota nurse with suspect credentials from one of those Florida nursing schools, retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team to help you defend your license before North Dakota's nursing board and with your North Dakota employer. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for premium professional license defense services to address your North Dakota nursing license issues arising out of Operation Nightingale enforcement actions.
Operation Nightingale Alleges Nursing School Fraud
Operation Nightingale's federal criminal fraud charges against officials at the suspect Florida nursing schools spurred the North Dakota nursing board's public acknowledgment that it has already revoked a nursing license for alleged fraudulent credentials. Federal HHS officials and FBI agents leading Operation Nightingale claim these schools sold thousands of fake associate's degrees and transcripts, earning over $100 million in the scandal:
- Sacred Heart International Institute;
- Siena College;
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach;
- Palm Beach School of Nursing;
- Quisqueya School of Nursing, also called Sunshine Academy; and
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy.
Operation Nightingale Nationwide Nursing Impacts
The fact that the Florida nursing school fraud scheme reached North Dakota illustrates the scandal's nationwide impact, highlighted in hospital industry updates, nursing journals, and press reports. Operation Nightingale spokespersons allege thousands of nurses won licenses, jobs, and other nursing degrees using the bogus credentials. Nurses across the country are now realizing the risk that they may lose their degrees, licenses, and jobs if they have credentials from one of the involved Florida nursing schools. The scandal is also roiling healthcare providers nationwide, threatening to worsen their unprecedented staffing shortages.
North Dakota Nursing Board Investigations
The North Dakota Board of Nursing's public acknowledgment of revoking a nursing license for allegedly fraudulent Florida nursing school credentials reveals that the Board is investigating nurses who hold credentials from the suspect Florida nursing schools. Other state nursing boards, such as the Board of Registration in Rhode Island, admit that federal law enforcement officials have contacted them, identifying nurses who may have used the bogus credentials. North Dakota nursing officials' cooperation with Operation Nightingale enforcement actions confirms the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's strong support for license revocations. If you hold a North Dakota nurse license under suspect credentials, retain the Lento Law Firm to defend North Dakota license disciplinary proceedings and appeal adverse decisions.
North Dakota Nursing Board Authority
North Dakota nursing board officials have plenty of authority to revoke nursing licenses in the Operation Nightingale scandal, whether saying that evidence necessarily justifies their actions. Section 43-12.1-03 of North Dakota's Nurses Practice Act requires that a nurse wishing to practice in the state obtain and maintain a North Dakota Board of Nursing license. Section 43-12.1-08 authorizes the Board to adopt and enforce educational and other standards for nursing licenses. Section 43-12.1-09 requires license applicants to certify their educational credentials. And Section authorizes Board of Nursing disciplinary officials to suspend or revoke the license of a nurse who "[h]as obtained or attempted to obtain by fraud or deceit a license or registration to practice nursing, or has submitted to the board any information that is fraudulent, deceitful, or false."
North Dakota Nurse Employer Investigations
The North Dakota Board of Nursing need not revoke your nursing license for your North Dakota employer to take notice that you hold suspect credentials from one of the Florida nursing schools involved in the scandal. Employers across the country are terminating the employment of nurses who cannot prove that their credentials from the involved Florida schools are legitimate. Employers are demanding detailed documentation of coursework and clinical hours to ensure that their nurses have the education and skill their credentials claim.
License Defense Available in North Dakota
You need skilled and experienced license defense if the North Dakota Board of Nursing has notified you of investigation or revoked your nursing license, or if you have employer issues. The Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento can help you fight your North Dakota professional licensing issues. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for the license defense services you need in North Dakota.
