Operation Nightingale Allegations

The FBI Operation Nightingale's federal criminal charges against more than two dozen Florida nursing school officials have threatened the credentials and licenses of thousands of nurses nationwide. Federal criminal defendants cooperated with the FBI to produce lists of thousands of nurses, many of them immigrants, allegedly buying fake credentials. The FBI and state nursing license officials allege that those nurses should not hold nursing jobs and licenses, wreaking havoc to nursing careers, families of nurses, and healthcare facilities across the nation. Retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento to defend your nursing credentials. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now.

Implicated Nurses Passed the NCLEX

But press reports indicate that 37% of the 7,600 nurses on the FBI's list have passed NCLEX exams in order to gain their licenses and hold gainful nursing jobs at hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities across the country. And federal officials admit that they have not identified any patients harmed by nurses allegedly holding false credentials related to the scandal. The exam, licensing, and job success of thousands of the implicated nurses call into question the legitimacy of the FBI's list and informant's allegations.

The Protective Role of NCLEX Licensing Exams

The FBI's informant list of nurses allegedly not completing their nursing education may be suspect as to any nurse passing the NCLEX, which means all licensed nurses on the FBI's list. The NCLEX claims to be no less than the world's premier licensing exam, scientifically verified as valid and reliable:

“NCSBN is dedicated to developing psychometrically sound and legally defensible nurse licensure and certification examinations consistent with current entry-level practice. The NCLEX is the world's premier licensure exam and uses computerized adaptive testing (CAT) technology to deliver the exam, ensuring a valid and reliable measurement of nursing competence.”

Officials Challenge the NCLEX

The NCLEX is, by its own claim, the world's premier licensing exam, created, maintained, and imposed to ensure that every nurse passing it has the education that nurse claims. A Nurse.com article on the scandal acknowledges that passing the NCLEX generally requires nursing school. And the same article further acknowledges that the FBI's accused nurses must have had legitimate nursing degrees, training, or experience to pass the exam. Yet the FBI and state licensing officials challenge the NCLEX with every proceeding against a licensed nurse, all of whom passed the NCLEX. Make no mistake: federal and state officials pursuing the scandal allegations aren't just challenging the nursing schools and nurses. They're challenging the NCLEX.

Coaching Isn't the Problem

To get around this obvious problem with their allegations against the thousands of nurses on the FBI list who passed the NCLEX, federal officials allege that instructors at the implicated nursing schools improperly coached the suspect nurses. This allegation, too, is absurd, especially given that the NCLEX itself offers abundant resources and advice to prepare for its exams. The NCLEX encourages examinees to practice its sample questions and use its exam previews, just like many other exam-prep sites.

Retain Premier License Defense

If you face or anticipate licensing challenges relating to Operation Nightingale, retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento for your best outcome. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now.