3 Florida nursing schools sold 7,600 fake diplomas, DOJ says

nurse checking pulse in hospital
(Image credit: Richard Bailey/Getty Images)

Federal prosecutors have identified three Florida nursing schools that participated in a scheme to sell up to 7,600 people fraudulent nursing credentials, Business Insider reports,

The investigation, dubbed Operation Nightingale, was a joint effort between the Department of Justice and the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Staff members and owners of Palm Beach School of Nursing, Siena College, and Sacred Heart International Institute, all of which are accredited, are accused of selling fake diplomas and transcripts to thousands of people seeking licenses for jobs as "registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs)." The credentials allowed them to take a shortcut to qualify to sit for the national nursing board exam. Markenzy Lapointe, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, told ABC News that the bogus documents helped many bypass "hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of clinical training."

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Theara Coleman, The Week US

Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.