On January 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and law enforcement partners launched a multi-state coordinated law enforcement action to apprehend individuals engaged in a scheme to sell false and fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts. The Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) has begun its own investigation into this alleged scheme.
The alleged scheme involved the selling of fake and fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN) candidates.
Five schools were implicated in this scheme:
-Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County, Florida;
-Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, Florida;
-Quisqueya School of Nursing d/b/a Sunshine Academy, Florida;
-Med-Life Institute WPB, Florida; Quisqueya Health Care Academy, Florida; and
-Siena College of Health II in Broward County, Florida.
If you obtained your nursing license from any of these schools, your license might be in jeopardy. You might have received a letter of investigation from the TBON or may have been named on the TBON’s website under the subheading “Operation Nightingale”. If you have been implicated in this alleged scheme, please seek the assistance of an experienced nursing license defense attorney.
Fortunately, a nurse who is under investigation for this alleged scheme can continue to work as a nurse while the investigation into their license is pending. The reason for this is that the accusation that the nurse received their diploma and or transcript through fraudulent means, is only that-an accusation. It has not been proven to be true. Before a nurse’s license can be revoked due to this accusation, the TBON must first prove the accusation to be true.
If a nurse has received explicit instructions from the TBON that they must cease working as a nurse until their investigation is concluded, then that nurse must follow the TBON’s instructions.
We at Nurse Defense Firm, PLLC specialize in defending nursing licenses before the Texas Board of Nursing.
Being accused of this offense, does not mean you are guilty of committing the offense. You fought to legitimately receive your diploma/transcript, now fight for your license and let us fight for you!
We offer free consultations so you can get your questions answered and make an informed decision about your case. Call us at 833-767-5867 or 833-RNS-LVNS or visit our services and blog pages for more information.
