More than 2,800 people are working as nurses under disguise for allegedly buying fake diplomas for $10,000 to $15,000 from a large Florida-based scheme recently uncovered by federal agents. There is a possibility. State and federal authorities are now working to track down nurses suspected of fraud and, in some cases, immediately revoke their licenses.
Last week, the Justice Department announced indictments against 25 people in five states in connection with the alleged scheme. An investigation, codenamed Operation Nightingale, found evidence that 25 defendants worked to sell more than 7,600 fake diplomas and transcripts between 2016 and 2021. , in which he earned over $100 million. The fraudulent diplomas and transcripts were allegedly issued by three Florida-based accredited nursing schools: Siena College and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County and Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County. increase.
Three schools are now closed and 25 defendants each face up to 20 years in prison.
“Healthcare fraud is nothing new in South Florida. Many scammers see it as an illegal but easy way to make money,” FBI Miami Special Agent Chad Yarbrough said in a statement. rice field. “What is alarming about this survey is that he has more than 7,600 people across the country with fraudulent nursing credentials who may be in critical health care roles treating patients.”
With a fake diploma and transcript, even an unscrupulous aspiring nurse can become eligible to take the National Board of Nursing exam. If you pass the exam, you can get a nursing license and get a job in the medical field. Federal officials reported that of her 7,600 suspected fake diplomas, about 37% (more than 2,800) passed the exam. Many got jobs as licensed nurses.
“deplorable”
Authorities are now trying to track down these nurses. Some of the suspected nurses were employed at veterans’ hospitals in Maryland and New York, hospitals in Georgia, specialty nursing homes in Ohio, and more, according to court documents.
Late last week, the Delaware Board of Nursing revoked the licenses of 26 people working as nurses suspected of having a fake degree. Pamela Zikafoose, executive director of the Delaware Board of Nursing, told a local ABC News affiliate, “We all feel this is terrible.
On Monday, a Georgia reporter reported that there are 22 people working as nurses with fake diplomas in the state. The Georgia Board of Nursing sent her 22 a letter on Jan. 17 asking them to voluntarily relinquish their license within 30 days. As of January 30th, no one had.
Also on Monday, the Washington State Board of Nursing Care Quality Assurance announced it had identified 150 nursing applicants using credentials from the alleged scheme. According to her KING5 in Seattle, 7 of her 150 have had their licenses revoked, 4 had their applications denied, 62 are facing legal troubles, and her 77 remaining under investigation.
In a statement, American Nurses Association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy said the alleged plans were “extremely disturbing” and that those involved were “deplored.”
“This undermines everything the nursing profession stands for and stands for, and is directly against the Code of Ethics for Nurses,” she continued. tarnishes the reputations of real nurses everywhere … We support investigations and judicial processes to ensure that individuals found to be involved in this scheme are held accountable.”
