Nurses in Utah holding suspect credentials from now-closed Florida nursing schools are not immune from the licensing investigations and license revocations taking place in a massive nationwide nursing school fraud scandal.
If you hold a Utah nursing license and practice nursing in Utah under credentials that you received from one of the involved Florida nursing schools, you need skilled and experienced license defense services. Retain the Lento Law Firm's premier License Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento to fight for your Utah nursing license and job. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for help overcoming your Utah nursing license issues.
The Nationwide Nursing School Fraud Scandal
Press reports in Utah and across the nation describe the massive nursing school fraud scandal rocking the nursing profession. Unprecedented nursing shortages out of the worldwide pandemic spurred the federal Operation Nightingale investigation into allegedly fraudulent nursing credentials sold by these now-closed Florida nursing schools:
- Quisqueya Health Care Academy;
- Sacred Heart International Institute;
- Palm Beach School of Nursing;
- Siena College;
- MedLife Institute West Palm Beach; and
- Quisqueya School of Nursing called Sunshine Academy.
Operation Nightingale resulted in federal criminal fraud charges against dozens of officials from these Florida nursing schools. The cases also allege that nurses who purchased the fraudulent credentials used them for nursing licenses and jobs around the nation and for admission to graduate nursing schools. Federal authorities did not charge the nurses in the initial cases, only school officials.
Nationwide Nursing Board Investigations
Public reports and private information confirm that state nurse licensing officials nationwide are initiating disciplinary investigations and pursuing license revocations against nurses holding suspect Florida nursing school credentials. A National Council of State Boards of Nursing press release indicates strong support of Operation Nightingale from state licensing boards. Utah's State Board of Nursing, operating under the state's Division of Professional Licensing, is surely among those state licensing boards ready to investigate and revoke the nursing license of any Utah nurse practicing under fraudulent credentials. Prepare to defend license disciplinary proceedings if you hold suspect Florida nursing school credentials.
Utah Board of Nursing Investigation Authority
Utah licensing officials have clear authority to revoke the licenses of nurses holding suspect credentials from the involved Florida nursing schools. Utah's Nurse Practice Act authorizes in its Section 58-31b-201 that the Utah Board of Nursing set “minimum standards for educational programs qualifying a person for licensure or certification” to practice nursing in Iowa. Utah's Nurse Practice Act Rule specifically requires “graduation from the education program, verified by official transcripts showing degree and date of program completion.” The Act's Section 58-31b-401 then authorizes the Board of Nursing to recommend license suspension or revocation to Utah's Division of Professional Licensing, although the same section requires the Board of Nursing to follow protective disciplinary procedures, ensuring that nurses who dispute the discipline get a fair hearing.
Utah Nurse Employer Investigations
Utah employers clearly share the same interest as the Utah Board of Nursing in ensuring that none of their nurses practice under fraudulent credentials. To protect their patients and the public, healthcare employers nationwide are investigating suspect nursing credentials and terminating the employment of nurses who cannot prove the credibility of credentials from the involved Florida schools.
Utah Professional License Defense Services Available
Qualified professional license defense services are the key to your best outcome of Utah professional licensing issues in the Florida nursing school fraud scandal. The Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team and national license defense attorney Joseph D. Lento are available for your license defense and employment representation in Utah. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now.
