The Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office of Southern District of Florida, recently announced, that 25 defendants were charged in a scheme to sell and obtain fraudulent nursing degrees for the purpose of obtaining a license and practicing as a nurse. Louisiana State Board of Nursing Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director Karen C. Lyon, PhD, MBA, APRN-CNS, NEA, stated, “As of January 27, 2023, three individuals on the FBI list have connections to Louisiana. Louisiana State Board of Nursing staff acted swiftly in responding to each of these individuals and is committed to safeguarding the life and health of citizens of Louisiana by assuring persons practicing as Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses are competent and safe.”
Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA) President Ecoee Rooney, DNP, RN, AFN-C, NPD-BC, SANE-A, DF-AFN stated “As a nurse I am disappointed to learn of this deceitful endeavor to defraud. These types of fraudulent schemes, while few, and far between, have exponential impact on the profession of nursing. Ultimately, it will be patients who suffer the greatest impact in an already overburdened health system. We are grateful for a strong and positive relationship with Louisiana State Board of Nursing and are grateful for their transparency and action. We encourage organizations, academic and practice, to rely on LSBN and the Department of Justice OIG to provide reliable accounts of the story as it develops.” Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA) Executive Director Ahnyel Burkes, DNP, RN-BC, NEA-BC, stated, “This fraudulent act is not a reflection of the integrity of the nursing profession or the code of ethics which guides our profession. LSNA commends the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and others for their prompt actions to continue protecting our communities.”
For more than two decades, the public has rated the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as the highest among all evaluated professionals. Special Agent, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Omar Pérez Aybar stated in a press conference, “To date, we have not learned of, nor uncovered, any evidence of patient harm stemming from these individuals potentially providing services to patients.” Louisiana nurses are encouraged to contact the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, (225) 755-7500 or lsbn@lsbn.state.la.us with any concerns about a colleague’s ability to practice safely and competently. Formal complaints should be submitted online using the LSBN