Fake Nursing Diplomas Scandal in Florida
What Happened?
At the end of January, news broke about three private nursing schools in Florida issuing more than 7,600 fake, un-earned nursing diplomas between 2016 and 2021.
Fraudulent diplomas and fake transcripts were sold to thousands of nursing applicants, which they used to take the national nursing board exam and obtain licenses and jobs without ever having completed the necessary coursework, clinicals, or training.
A Breach in Ethics
It goes without saying that this is an enormous ethical breach. The heightened risks that these unqualified nurses’ patients now face is the most obvious consequence. However, drawing from experience in the nursing education field, there’s a strong chance that a majority of the applicants who obtained fake credentials went on to work with older demographics in assisted living communities or as home health aids.
These types of work environments are less rigorous compared to settings like an emergency room or ICU, allowing those without the proper credentials to “fly under the radar.”
A Message for Nursing Students
Anybody can pass an exam, but not just anybody can be a nurse.
In fact, anyone who feels the need to buy their way in or skip past the hard parts shouldn’t be a nurse at all.
The work is daunting and difficult, but for good reasons. Accepting the challenges of the nursing journey can be scary and overwhelming, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. If you’re at a point in your journey where you’re stuck or struggling and you don’t know what to do next, that’s what Rhema Health Academy is here for.
Don’t buy your way in at the cost of countless patients’ health and your own integrity — contact us today so we can help you keep going!
