The American Health Association estimated that about 500,000 nurses would leave the workforce by the end of 2022. Unfortunately, in response to this shortage, 3 South Florida based nursing schools fraudulently issued 7,600 fake nursing diplomas.  To date, only 25 individuals have been charged as a result of search warrants issued in Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Florida. In what has been called “Operation Nightingale”, the OIG and other various law enforcement partners will continue to identify individuals involved in the nursing diploma scheme to prevent such individuals from obtaining employment as nurses. The individuals who acquired the fraudulent nursing credentials used them to qualify to sit for the national nursing board exam.  Upon successful completion of the board exam, the individuals became eligible to obtain licensure in various states and to work as an RN or a LPN/VN. The Texas Board of Nursing has stated that, “The Board is working, diligently, with all appropriate nursing regulatory bodies, nursing education program providers, accreditation bodies and authorities to detect, investigate and resolve these matters as quickly as possible, including seeking revocation of any licensure obtained through fraudulent means.”

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General – Full Article