Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) Statement
Federal Investigation – Fraudulent Nursing Diploma Scheme
The Kentucky Board of Nursing protects the public through the development and enforcement of state laws governing the safe practice of nurses (RNs, LPNs, APRNs), dialysis technicians and licensed certified professional midwives, as well as the process of licensing or credentialing applicants for those professions.
In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and other agencies publicly announced a coordinated law enforcement effort to investigate, arrest and prosecute individuals engaged in a scheme to sell fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts. This enforcement action is referred to as Operation Nightingale. [2023 Operation Nightingale Enforcement Action | Office of Inspector General | Government Oversight | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]
The Board has cooperated with Operation Nightingale and has been following developments closely. {NCSBN PRESS RELEASE: https://www.ncsbn.org/public-files/OperationNightengaleStatement.pdf}
It is a violation of nursing law to procure or attempt to procure a license, credential, or privilege to practice nursing by fraud or deceit
(See KRS 314.091(1)(a).
even if the applicant subsequently withdraws their application.
(See KRS) 314.099.
Per KRS 314.041(1), the Board will deny a nursing license to any applicant who has not “completed the basic curriculum for preparing registered nurses in an approved school of nursing"
(See KRS 314.041(1). The Board will take any appropriate actions to protect and safeguard the health of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky from individuals fraudulently seeking licensure or working without the requisite education and training.
Therefore, some applicants may experience a delay in their application processing time while Board staff carefully review the educational record. Board staff may require additional documentation from the applicant. Licensure may be denied if the applicant's training is determined to be insufficient.
A list of Florida nursing schools deemed to be problematic by the Board's federal partners includes, but is not limited to:
• Carleen Health Institute
• Carleen Home Health School II
• Ideal Professional Institute, Inc.
• Jay College of Health LLC
• Med-Life Institute – Naples
• Med-Life Institute – West Palm Beach
• Med-Life Institute of South Florida
• Med-Life Institute School of Nursing
• Palm Beach School of Nursing
• Quisqueya Health Care Academy
• Quisqueya School of Nursing
• Sacred Heart International Institute Inc.
• Siena College of Health
• Siena College of Health II LLC
• Siena Education Center LLC
• Sigma College
• Sigma Institute of Health Careers
• Sunshine Academy
• Techni-Pro Institute
• The Enfimye Institute