Nurses nationwide face state licensing investigations in the Florida nursing schools scandal alleging the sale of thousands of fake nursing degrees and fraudulent transcripts.
You should anticipate licensing board investigation if you are a nurse licensed and working in Tennessee, and you have suspect credentials from one of the involved Florida nursing schools. Retain national professional license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's License Defense Team for skilled and experienced license defense representation in Tennessee relating to the Florida nursing school fraud scandal. Let attorney Lento help you overcome your nursing license issues. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for the help you need to navigate the license discipline process for nurses.
Florida Nursing School Fraud Allegations
Federal criminal fraud charges against Florida nursing school officials allege their sale of fraudulent degrees and transcripts to thousands of aspiring nurses. The Department of Health & Human Services' Operation Nightingale alleges that those thousands of involved individuals used the credentials to enter other nursing schools, qualify for the national licensing exam, gain state licenses, and practice nursing in hospitals and clinics, and through other healthcare providers. The allegations identify these now-closed Florida nursing schools in the alleged fraud scheme:
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy;
- Quisqueya School of Nursing called Sunshine Academy;
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach;
- Palm Beach School of Nursing;
- Siena College; and
- Sacred Heart International Institute.
Nationwide Licensing Board Investigations
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing discloses that licensing boards nationwide are pursuing investigations related to the Operation Nightingale allegations. Those investigations target nurses with suspect credentials from the above Florida nursing schools, placing their licenses at risk of revocation. Public reports indicate that several boards have already revoked licenses or initiated formal proceedings to do so. Other boards have notified involved nurses that they must document the credibility of their disputed credentials or lose their licenses. Expect Tennessee nursing license officials to follow suit.
Tennessee Board of Nursing Authority
Tennessee's Nurse Practice Act authorizes the Tennessee Board of Nursing to establish rules and regulations to govern its licensing of Tennessee nurses. The Act requires applicants for a nursing license to submit proof of their qualifying education. The Act's Section 63-7-115 expressly authorizes the Board of Nursing to deny, suspend, or revoke a license of a nurse “guilty of fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice nursing.” The Act's Section 63-7-116 sets forth the protective procedures the Board of Nursing must follow to revoke a nursing license.
Employer Notices of Investigation
Tennessee employers of nurses, including hospitals, homecare firms, clinics, and other healthcare providers, must also ensure the credibility of their nurses' credentials. Employers nationwide are sending their own notices of investigation to their nurses with suspect Florida nursing school credentials. Some employers are even turning their nurses over to state licensing officials for investigation. Employers are also, though, offering involved nurses opportunities to prove the credibility of suspect credentials.
Tennessee License Defense Services Available
If you face or anticipate Tennessee Board of Nursing license investigation over the Florida nursing school fraud scandal, get the skilled and experienced license defense services you need to preserve your license and employment. National professional license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's License Defense Team have helped hundreds of professionals in Tennessee and nationwide overcome their professional license issues. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for premier nursing license defense services in Tennessee.
