The Texas Board of Nursing says it has filed formal charges against 23 nurses practicing in the US for certificates forgery.
18 of the nurses are suspected to be Nigerians, The Vanguard reports.
A statement on the Board's website, says that an ongoing investigation showed that the said nurses were involved in a huge
fraudulent diploma/ transcript scheme.
The investigation, which was coordinated by law enforcement of many U.S states and code-named ‘Operation Nightingale,’ involved the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
It was launched on January 25, 2023, to arrest persons who participated in the
program to sell false and fraudulent nursing degrees, diplomas, and transcripts.
The Texas Board of Nursing said that the suspects obtained fraudulent nursing credentials which they used to sit for the national nursing board exam.
In a separate statement the Board said, “Upon successful completion of the board exam, the nursing applicants became eligible to obtain licensure in various states to work as an RN or an LPN/VN.”
It also clarified that the suspects are permitted to work pending the outcome of the charges as the formal charges filed against them are not a final disciplinary action.
The statement reads: “The Board has filed Formal Charges against the following nurses for fraudulently obtaining educational credentials.
“The Board is authorized to file Formal Charges against a nurse if probable cause exists that the nurse has committed an act listed in Tex. Occ. Code §301.452(b) or that violates other laws. See Tex. Occ. Code §301.458. Further, Formal Charges are publicly available. See Tex. Occ. Code §301.466(b).
“Please note that Formal Charges are not a final disciplinary action, and a nurse is permitted to work, as a nurse, while Formal Charges are pending.”
The suspected Nigerians are; Abiodun Yetunde Felicia; Adelakun Abiodun Aveez; Adelekan Joseph Adewale; Adeoye Vivien Temitope; Adewale Modinat Abidemi; Afolabi Olufemi Toun; Afolabi Omowunmi F; Agbo Odumegwu Steve; and Ajibade Charlot Omotayo.
Amanda Olabisi Christiana; Akhigbe Catherine; Akinrolabu Folasade Margaret; Ako Esiri Rachael; Akpan Rosemary Moses; Alimi Bukola A; Ani Ndirika Justina; Aroh Nchekwube C.; and Ayodeji Sherifat Olubunmi.
The non-Nigerian nurses involved in the fraud are Abanda Jacob Atambili; Addai Agnes Fosuah; Anaaba Awingrug Musah; Anthony-Annor and Spendilove; Asanga Albert Nshanui.
The statement further said, “This list will be updated continuously as the Board receives additional information about the fraudulent diploma/transcript scheme.”
Crime. Health.
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