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Operation Nightingale and the Fraudulent Nursing School Investigation

On January 25, 2023, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General publicly announced its enforcement actions against a large-scale fraudulent nursing diploma scheme operated by Florida-based nursing education programs. The California Board of Registered Nursing (Board) has been diligently and expeditiously working to identify and investigate any California applicants or licensees who attended a fraudulent nursing education program. The Board continues to actively investigate this serious matter and will take any actions necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all Californians. Employers who identify licensees who attended a nursing education program named in the FBI announcement should submit the licensee’s name, license number, employing agency or organization, and any additional information available to Enforcement.BRN@dca.ca.gov. Thank you for your assistance with this serious matter.

The Board continues to work to gather information and evidence related to potentially fraudulent education credentials. As the Board collects evidence, we are taking action, consistent with its lawful due process authority, to protect the public from individuals suspected of working without the required education and training.

Unfortunately, the Board cannot provide information on the investigation of any particular licensee, applicant, or any ongoing investigation. If you have any information about a person that you believe may have violated the California Nursing Practice Act, please file a complaint with the Board as soon as possible at https://www.breeze.ca.gov.

You may check the Board's website periodically for updated information. To access the Board's licensee database for information about individual licensees, go to https://www.breeze.ca.gov and click the License Search button. Information will also be posted to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Nursys® database.

Should the Board takes disciplinary action against a licensee, as a result of Operation Nightingale or the Board's investigation into fraudulent nursing education credentials, we will post the disciplinary action on the Board’s website at https://www.breeze.ca.gov. The Board will also post disciplinary actions against applicants and licensee to the NCSBN Nursys® database.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Statement on Operation Nightingale

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Justice Department for their important work on Operation Nightingale. The investigation focused on nursing education programs that were allegedly involved in the sale of false and fraudulent nursing education credentials.

With public safety and welfare as a top concern, NCSBN and our member nursing regulatory bodies partnered with federal and state authorities, helping to identify and monitor individuals who allegedly provided these illegitimate transcripts and credentials that could potentially undermine safe patient care.

Nursing regulatory bodies in affected states have been investigating individual cases and are taking appropriate action, in accordance with their state laws and due process, that includes loss of license.

As the world leader in nursing regulatory knowledge, NCSBN is dedicated to protecting the public and will continue to support our member nursing regulatory bodies as they thoroughly investigate each case, taking the necessary actions to ensure public safety and root out the fraud involved in this case. NCSBN is committed to helping our members identify any additional safeguards and solutions that are needed.

This situation speaks to the importance of nursing regulation and the collective duty to protect the public. NCSBN will continue working with all appropriate nursing regulatory bodies, nursing education program providers, accreditation bodies and authorities to detect, investigate and resolve these matters today and into the future.

Operation Nightingale Fraudulent Nursing Schools

  • Med-Life Institute West Palm Beach
  • Sunshine Academy
  • Palm Beach School of Nursing
  • Quisqueya
  • Siena College of Health and Siena College of Health II
  • Sacred Heart International Institute
  • Florida College of Health Tampa FL
  • Sigma College FL
  • Carleen Home Health II West Palm Beach FL
  • Carleen Home Health School II - West Palm Beach, FL
  • Ideal Professional Institute - Miami Gardens, FL
  • Jay College of Health - Lake Worth, FL
  • Quisqueya Health Care Academy - Lake Worth, FL
  • Siena Education Center LLC - Lauderhill, FL
  • Sigma Institute of Health Care Careers - Oakland Park, FL
  • The Enfimye Institute - North Palm Beach, FL

Schools Denied or Closed by the Florida Commission of Independent Education

  • Med-life Lauderdale Lakes
  • Carleen Health Institute South FL and West Palm Beach
  • Myrielle School of Nursing Palm Springs FL
  • Nursing Bridges Institute Pensacola FL
  • Palm Beach International College Lake Worth
  • Suncoast College of Health Bradenton FL
  • Techni Pro Institute Boca Raton FL

As the Board receives additional information and new schools are identified, this list will be updated.