Oklahoma nurses are not immune to the nationwide investigations of nurses with suspect credentials from one of the several now-closed Florida nursing schools at the center of the profession's massive nursing school fraud scandal.
Oklahoma nurses facing license proceedings and employer investigations over their suspect Florida nursing school credentials deserve skilled and experienced license defense representation. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now to retain the Lento Law Firm's License Defense Team and premier license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento to address your Oklahoma nursing license issues.
The Florida Nursing School Fraud Scandal
The FBI and HHS enforcement action called Operation Nightingale resulted in federal criminal fraud charges against dozens of Florida nursing school officials. The charges allege the sale of thousands of fraudulent nursing school credentials to aspiring nurses including many minority immigrants. Those individuals allegedly used the suspect credentials to win nursing licenses and jobs nationwide. The scheme centers on these now-closed Florida nursing schools:
- Palm Beach School of Nursing;
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy;
- Siena College;
- Sacred Heart International Institute;
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach; and
- Quisqueya School of Nursing called Sunshine Academy.
Nationwide Board of Nursing Investigations
State licensing officials have closely followed the Operation Nightingale investigation into the massive fraud scheme, according to a National Council of State Boards of Nursing press release. Public reports and private information confirm that state officials are pursuing their own disciplinary investigations and cases to, in some cases, revoke the licenses of the involved nurses. Oklahoma's Board of Nursing, like the other state boards nationwide, is surely prepared to initiate license disciplinary proceedings against any Oklahoma nurse found to hold suspect Florida nursing school credentials.
Oklahoma Board of Nursing Licensing Authority
Oklahoma's Nursing Practice Act authorizes the Oklahoma Board of Nursing to establish and enforce the educational requirements necessary to obtain the state's nursing licenses. The Act's Section 567.8.B.1. specifically authorizes the Board of Nursing to deny, suspend, or revoke the license of a nurse who is “guilty of deceit or material misrepresentation in procuring or attempting to procure” an Oklahoma nursing license. Oklahoma Board of Nursing officials would rely on this and similar rules and regulations to investigate the license of any nurse holding suspect Florida nursing school credentials. Those officials must, though, follow the Nursing Practice Act's protective procedures under the same Section 567.8 for any nurse who disputes the disciplinary action.
Oklahoma Nurse Employer Investigations
Oklahoma employers will also investigate their nurses if they learn from state or federal officials or other sources of their suspect Florida nursing school credentials. Employers nationwide have suspended and terminated the employment of nurses who cannot prove the credibility of those suspect credentials. Oklahoma employers would surely follow suit to protect patients and the public and avoid civil liability and regulatory action.
Oklahoma Professional License Defense Services
Retain the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team and premier license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento to represent you in your Oklahoma professional licensing issues in the Florida nursing school fraud scandal. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for the skill and experience you need for your best outcome to Oklahoma nursing license issues.
