Operation Nightingale scheme “Operation Nightingale” fraud scheme alert: Bogus nursing credentials sold to thousands of aspiring nurses It was recently discovered that a scheme, nicknamed “Operation Nightingale,” offered aspiring nurses the opportunity to purchase fake nursing degree diplomas and transcripts. Feb. 13, 2023MondayFebruary 2023 issue The DO Staff Contact The DO Staff Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email On January 25th, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the discovery of a scheme (nicknamed “Operation Nightingale”) that allowed aspiring nurses to buy fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts from three Florida-based schools that allowed them to sit for the national nursing board examination and, in some cases, obtain state licenses. More than 7,600 counterfeit diplomas were issued to aspiring registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) by Siena College and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County, Florida, as well as the Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, Florida, between 2016 and 2021. All three schools are now closed. While the total number of licensees has not been made public, individuals identified by the federal investigation as possibly having illegitimate educational credentials have been flagged in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing nationwide data system for monitoring and appropriate action by state boards of nursing. Health care providers and members of the public who are concerned about a specific nurse’s credentials should file a complaint with their state board of nursing. More in Newsbriefs For the first time, a DO is president-elect of the Mississippi State Medical Association Katherine Pannel, DO, MSMA’s new president-elect, seeks to advance mental health advocacy and physician autonomy. TouroCOM opens new school in Great Falls, Montana The new campus is Touro University’s third college of osteopathic medicine and the first nonprofit medical school in Montana. Previous articleBlack History Month: Recognizing the Black DOs I looked up to during my medical training Next articleCelebrate Black History Month with these Black DO physicians
For the first time, a DO is president-elect of the Mississippi State Medical Association Katherine Pannel, DO, MSMA’s new president-elect, seeks to advance mental health advocacy and physician autonomy.
TouroCOM opens new school in Great Falls, Montana The new campus is Touro University’s third college of osteopathic medicine and the first nonprofit medical school in Montana.