Operation Nightingale Nurse Granted New Nursing License
A former nurse who was unknowingly caught up in a fraudulent diploma scheme has been granted a probationary nursing license. Lizzette Ngamalue received her nursing training through the National School of Nursing and Allied Health and Siena Education Center, programs that would later be involved in a national diploma mill scandal. When it was revealed that Ngamalue obtained her nursing license using credentials from these institutions, she lost her license. Now, Ngamalue is getting a second chance at her nursing career.
If you’ve been a victim of a diploma mill and had your licensure revoked or are facing any issues related to your professional license, the LLF National Law Firm can help. Our Professional License Defense Team is here to fight for you to regain licensure and get your career back on track. To learn more about how we can help you, call us at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
What is Operation Nightingale?
Operation Nightingale is a federal law enforcement operation that exposed an illegal scheme that issued fraudulent nursing credentials. Unaware of the program’s illegal activity and lack of accreditation, aspiring nurses enrolled in these fraudulent programs. The programs highlighted the ease of the programs, while failing to mention that they did not meet many of the legally mandated educational and clinical requirements.
These nurses would then, thinking their diplomas were legitimate, provide their fraudulent diplomas and transcripts to obtain access to the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and to nursing boards throughout the country. They then became Registered Nurses (RNs) or Licensed Nurse Practitioners (LPNs) through what they believed to be legitimate means. The operation revealed that these companies churned out about 7,300 fake diplomas unbeknownst to their victims.
Getting Her Second Chance
In 2020, Ngamalue obtained her nursing license through a nursing program that would later be implicated in Operation Nightingale. In 2023, authorities notified Ngamalue’s nursing board that her credentials weren’t legitimate, and it began pursuing disciplinary action against her. Despite the fact that she believed her diploma was obtained properly, having completed the appropriate coursework and standardized testing, she was being accused of submitting fraudulent materials on her Iowa and Florida nursing applications. Ngamalue voluntarily surrendered her nursing license.
But this wasn’t the end of the road for Ngamalue. She quickly enrolled and received a legitimate nursing degree from Mercy College of Health Sciences. She passed the NCLEX again and applied for a new nursing license. Due to her previous license surrender, she was subjected to a hearing and in-depth review by the nursing board, a process with much higher scrutiny than the usual application process.
The board has shown confidence in Ngamalue’s potential by granting her a probationary nursing license. With a clean record under the Nursing Practice Act over the next two years, she will be on track to earn a fully unrestricted nursing license.
Is Your Professional License Being Threatened? The LLF National Law Firm is Here for You
Everyone deserves a second chance. If your license is being threatened, or it’s already on probation or revoked, our Professional License Defense Team can help.We’ll tell you how to approach your licensure board and present the strongest argument for why you deserve to regain your license. If your license is hanging in the balance, we will do everything in our power to protect it. Get started with us today by calling 888-535-3686 or contacting us online.