The Texas Board of Nursing, United States, says it has charged 75 nurses to court for issues relating to the falsification of certificates.
43 of those affected were identified as Nigerians.
Information on the Board’s website reveals that the nurses concerned are suspected to have fraudulently acquired nursing credentials that made them eligible to sit for the national nursing board exam.
After completing the board exam, the nursing applicants became qualified to obtain licensure in various states to work as a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN), the statement said.
Earlier, the Board had filed formal charges against 23 such nurses,18 of whom were suspected to be of Nigerian origin.
A statement on the Board's website, at the time, said that the investigation was ongoing and that the said nurses were involved in a huge fraudulent diploma/ transcript scheme.
It further said that the list will be updated continuously as the Board receives additional information about the fraudulent diploma/transcript scheme.
The statement 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 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.
Vanguard reports that in its latest announcement, the Texas Board of Nursing stated that it is collaborating with all relevant nursing regulatory bodies, nursing education program providers, accreditation bodies and authorities to detect, investigate and resolve such matters as quickly as possible, including seeking revocation of any licensure obtained through fraudulent means.
Crime. Health.
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