TikTok plastic surgeon 'Dr. Roxy' loses Ohio medical license for See also Open Data Portal How-To Video Guides. You must request inactive status before your late renewal period ends. "This is probably one of the most brazen schemes that I've seen. Aybar said one of the ways officials were alerted to the alleged scheme was when the Florida state auditing process discovered poor passing rates at three nursing schools. Aybar said that is why, from the onset of the investigation, authorities have been working with state licensing boards to share as much information as they could, as fast as they could, so the respective boards "can assess what actions to take to prevent these individuals from rendering care.". All Rights Reserved. Your current home state of residence is Delaware, Your current home state of residence is another, Graduation from a Nursing education program within the past two years (24 months), The program must be a State Board of Nursing approved Registered Nurse or Practical Nursing education program. It is unclear whether the 26 Delaware nurses who had their licenses annulled were actively working in direct patient care roles, and if they were, at what facilities. Board of Nursing - Division of Professional Regulation - Delaware Delaware Nurses Association releases statement on fraudulent nursing Over 7,600 fraudulent nursing degrees are circulating in the American If you are unable to reach us by phone, submit your inquiry via email at customerservice.dpr@delaware.gov. all licenses that you hold or have ever held are in good standing. Elected Officials The letters, according to Baltazar-Lopez, make the licenses void "as it never should have existed," he said in a written statement Thursday. The expiration month depends on when your license was originally issued. During renewal, you must attest that you have completed the required continuing education (CE) and that you have practiced Nursing at least 1,000 hours in the past five years or 400 hours in the past two years. APRNs who have been out of active clinical practice more than 2 years but less than 5 years must submit 24 hours of CE with 12 hours in pharmacotherapeutics and 12 hours in the clinical management of patients taken within 1 year before application. A Nursing Employer Reference Form(s) from employer: if you have been employed during the past six months as the same type of nurse for which you are applying. Nursing Public Disciplinary Actions - State of Delaware Investigators allege that Adrien and Predestin assisted individuals in acquiring fake diplomas and transcripts from nursing schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties by falsely documenting that the individuals had completed the necessary courses and/or clinicals. The FBI is working with state nursing boards across the country to identify unqualified nurses. Laws, c. 26, 1; 65 Del. The Delaware Nurses Association says Delaware has been named in filings and it is suspected that numerous potential licensees are affiliated with Delaware. If you already have an e-Notify account go into your account and update it with your DE license information. Why don't you get it in something less stressful and more . Cities & Towns If you already have a DELPROS user account, enter your email address and password on the. The program must be a State Board of Nursing approved Registered Nurse or Practical Nursing education program. Business First Steps, Phone Directory Privacy Policy. These online license verifications contain real time information from our DELPROS licensure database. Two adults, three juveniles arrested following late-night chase in Worcester Co. One dead, two others injured in Cambridge crash, Four indicted in Delaware's largest fentanyl seizure, Chincoteague Fire Company says rising illegal entry at wildlife reserve could force town to move ponies to more remote location. "What is disturbing about the scheme is the possibility of harm coming to patients under the dubious care of one of these allegedly fraudulent nurses," acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough, FBI Miami, said. In the event the applicant has not been actively employed in professional, practical, or advanced practice registered nursing in the past 5 years, the applicant must provide evidence of satisfactory completion of an appropriate board-approved nursing advanced practice refresher program within 1 year before licensure by reinstatement. We all think this is outrageous, said Dr. Pamela Zickafoose, the executive director of the Delaware Board of Nursing. Two co-defendants, Geralda Adrien and Woosvelt Predestin, also completed online courses on behalf of the fake degree purchasers. A massive, coordinated scheme to sell false and fraudulent nursing degree credentials has been brought down by a joint federal law enforcement operation, Justice Department officials said Wednesday. Why would you get a fake nursing degree? Federal indictment over fake Florida nursing diplomas leaves 26 - Yahoo The nurses who had their licenses annulled in Delaware can appeal the decision, but officials believe the nurses knew what they were doing was fraudulent. Gilgo Beach: Officials search for link between suspect, other murders, Powerball jackpot of $900M up for grabs in Monday night's drawing. When such person desires to resume practice, application for renewal shall be made under subsection (a) of this section and the license shall be reactivated if the requirements of the Board are met. * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. Business First Steps, Phone Directory 0:00. Hot times are ahead for the Philly region. Get free summaries of new opinions delivered to your inbox! Officials said that at this point it is up to the state licensing boards to push forward with action against those individuals under their purview -- some of whom have been practicing nursing "somewhere in the United States, perhaps currently," Lapointe said. Social Media, Built by the Government Information Center As part of Florida's sweeping new immigration bill signed by Gov. State Regulations Delaware Topics However, you may use the title RN Inactive and/or APRN Inactive while your license is in inactive status. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. In three cases that have already been heard, Baltazar-Lopez said it was "determined the nurses committed fraud.". practice of 600 hours over the past two years in the specialty, graduation from the specialty program within the past two years. ' said Kathleen Czekanski, the dean of the School of Nursing. If you wish to resume practicing after your license has terminated, you must reapply in DELPROS as a new applicant. You may check the status of your application online throughout the entire application process by using the View Application Status feature in DELPROS on your e-License dashboard. "Not only is this a public safety issue, but it also tarnishes the reputation of nurses who actually did the hard clinical and coursework required to get licenses and jobs," Lapointe said. The college was run byEunide Sanon, who allegedly worked with three people, who are also charged, in New York and New Jersey who recruited aspiring nurses. Group ranks health care industry's lowlights in 2022, FDA vaccine panel to consider annual COVID shots, Florida doc sentenced to 20 years in prison, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, The DOJ is prosecuting participants in the alleged scheme in five separate cases. How many hours of CE are required for your first renewal depends on when your license was initially issued. Read the full article. Delaware annuls 26 nurses' licenses amid degree scheme probe All notices about professional licenses, such as renewal and audit notices, will be sent by email only. The action by federal law enforcement comes at a crucial moment in the health care industry, where an existing nurse shortage, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has left many nursing staffs spread thin and burnt out. Delaware New York New Jersey Texas Florida More than 7,600 aspiring registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) bought false diplomas to find work with unsuspecting healthcare providers in several states. During each renewal, you must attest that: If you hold an active license but are not practicing in Delaware, excluding telehealth registrations, you may request to place your license in inactive status by submitting a Service Request in DELPROS. Woman's loaf pic questioned from far and wide, Pika Fire continues to burn in Yosemite National Park. 2:07. There is an Export option to convert the data into an excel document if you choose. All three schools have since closed, according to officials. NLN Condemns Scheme Exposed by Operation Nightingale to Sell Fake It uncovered a massive, coordinated effort to sell more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas and certificates for more than $100 million. Twenty-six Delaware nurses were informed that their nursing license was annulled as part of a fraudulent nursing diploma scheme uncovered by the Department of Justice. As a result, it is believed that defendants may have obtained a license and/or have been potentially practicing in Delaware. Fake nursing diploma scheme in Florida; 25 arrested - Yahoo News To resume practicing in Delaware, for non-telehealth registrations, you must apply to reinstate your license in DELPROS. More than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas issued in Florida in alleged wire Officials said the forged diplomas and transcripts were sold from what had been accredited schools to aspiring nurses, in order to help candidates bypass the qualifying requirements necessary to sit for the national nursing board exam. Personal Income Tax Late last week, the Delaware State Board of Nursing annulled the licenses of 26 people working as nurses after obtaining allegedly fake degrees. Click HERE for Important Information for Licensees struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues. To be licensed by endorsement Delaware, you must meet one of the following practice requirements. MMXXIII Delaware.gov, Professional License Services for Military Personnel, Continuing Education and Audit Information. Privacy Policy From your Dashboard, click CONTINUING EDUCATION in the blue banner at the top of the screen. Specifically when we talk about a nurse's education, and credentials - shortcut is not a word we want to use," said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe. Locations Directory Yet . Details on this will be announced in February, but officials believe the nurses knew they were fraudulent. Copyright 2023 Becker's Healthcare. In the event no advanced practice refresher program is available, the applicant must complete 600 hours of supervised clinical experience in the appropriate advanced practice role and population focus, with a qualified preceptor within 1 year before licensure by reinstatement. Federal indictment over fake Florida nursing diplomas leaves 26 In total, 25 people face charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy for their alleged participation in the sale of more than 7,600 fraudulent diplomas and transcripts. Specific Instructions to create a new e-Notify account: Once you have registered, you can go into your account and complete or update the required information. 25 people are being charged, including Stanton Witherspoon and Alfred Sellu of Burlington County, New Jersey. . The fake diplomas and transcripts qualified those who purchased them to sit for the national nursing board exam. MIAMI - Three now-shuttered South Florida nursing schools sold more than $100 million worth of fake nursing diplomas, leading authorities to charge more than two dozen people, federal. Siena College was a school in Broward County, Florida that was licensed by the states board of nursing and its independent education commission to offer practical nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. Additional defendants charged include "recruiters" to bring in would-be buyers. "They pledge that they're going to abstain from any deleterious act. For more information about CE requirements and audits, click on the Continuing Education and Audit Information webpage or see Section 9.0 in the Nursing Rules and Regulations and Question 10 in the Frequently Asked Questions. A copy of your drivers license or official identification card from the Division of Motor Vehicles. Alleged participants in the scheme backdated the diplomas and transcripts they were selling, to make them appear legitimate, authorities said. According to the OIG, the scheme generally worked in three parts: 'Producing the poison u0026 selling the cure':Group ranks health care industry's lowlights in 2022, COVID vaccination:FDA vaccine panel to consider annual COVID shots, Sober home fraud:Florida doc sentenced to 20 years in prison. Laws, c. 171; 81 Del. These people who attended these Florida schools did not complete the curriculum, the clinical training that is required of all nurses to be licensed to practice nursing, said Dr. zigzags. We "expect our health care professionals to be who they claim they are. The Delaware Board of Nursing annulled 26 licenses. E-mail / Text Alerts One injured in weekend shooting in Accomack Co. Dover man charged in June officer-involved shooting, Broken water valve repair underway in Salisbury. Scroll down and click Disciplinary Actions for Professional and Occupational Licensees. Individuals allegedly used the fake paperwork to fast-track the process for them to take the National Council Licensure Examination, even if they had not completed the necessary coursework to graduate or qualify for the test, federal authorities said. Tax Center Aybar said that is why, from the onset of the investigation, authorities have been working with state licensing boards to share as much information as they could, as fast as they could, so the respective boards "can assess what actions to take to prevent these individuals from rendering care.". Laws, c. 186, 1; 70 Del. Privacy Policy License Verifications - Division of Professional Regulation - Delaware More Info. A qualified APRN preceptor must hold an active unencumbered license or privilege to practice as an APRN or be a physician who has an active unencumbered license and practices in a comparable practice focus in the clinical setting. All rights reserved. Ten people helped recruit people looking to obtain fake degrees. To check and update your contact information online, click on Manage Profile link in DELPROS. Florida Nursing School Scandal Update #1: 3 Colleges Closed, Delaware Related Topics:Board of Nursing, Department of State, license renewal, nursing, Pro Reg, professional, professional licensees, professional regulation, Renewal, State of Delaware, Delaware's Governor State Employees Spokesman. Several states were involved in the raid, including Delaware and New Jersey. Meetings Unless notified otherwise, the Board meets the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m., with the exception of August and December. Spokesman. 26 Delaware nurses have had their licenses revoked in connection with a consent agreement, or reprimand appear below. Aybar pointed to the pledge of ethics and principles that nurses take, called the "Nightingale Pledge.". "And of course, erodes the centuries-old trust we have built with our country's nurses.". "I encourage those of you -- if you're in a setting and you happen to have someone that may not be practicing up to the standards as you understand it, maybe if you see something, say something.". 26 Delaware nurses have licenses annulled amid nursing diploma investigation "When we talk about a nurse's education, and credentials, shortcut is not a word we want to use," a U.S. Attorney said. Delaware Nurses Association President Stephanie McClellan, MBA, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NE-BC, released the following statement: We are deeply unsettled by this egregious act. The action by federal law enforcement comes at a crucial moment in the health care industry, where an existing nurse shortage, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has left many nursing staffs spread thin and burnt out. Specifically when we talk about a nurse's education, and credentials - shortcut is not a word we want to use," said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe. Washington, DC Following the arrest last week of more than two dozen people alleged to be responsible for a multi-state scheme to sell fraudulent credentials to aspiring registered nurses, the National League for Nursing, the nation's first nursing association and the leading voice for nursing education, has released the following statement: To download the disciplinary document (board order), click View next to each document. Aybar said one of the ways officials were alerted to the alleged scheme was when the Florida state auditing process discovered poor passing rates at three nursing schools. You cannot practice in Delaware while your license is in inactive status. Voting & Elections State Employees Georgia's Board of Nursing just reported 22 nurses were asked to surrender their licenses and 3 were removed from duty at a local VA hospital.. Philadelphia Thursday, January 26, 2023, Sasha Pezenik from 6ABC reported on the Florida nursing scheme where it was discovered that a fake nursing school sold over 7600 fake nursing diplomas, certificates, and transcripts. Delaware Courts RN/LPN License by Endorsement - State of Delaware Click on Search & Verify License and follow the instructions to access this quick, easy, and free service. The Department of Justice along with the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General carried out the investigation, dubbed Operation Nightingale. Examples of third-party forms are transcripts from schools, employment verifications from a supervisor, or license verifications from another state. State Agencies To view the law, click Delaware Code . Investigating agents spent weeks combing through upwards of 10,000 records from nursing schools to move the investigation forward. In Delaware, a combined 26 active registered nurse and licensed nurse practitioner licenses were annulled or voided through these findings, according to the Department of State. If you do not hold a Delaware RN license, your compact RN license must have a future expiration date. Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Forms requiring a supervisor signature, seal, or notary may have to be. Use the Blue Filter button to add a profession_id filter. "These people didn't go through that. The Delaware State Board of Nursing did not release the names of the individuals that have lost their nursing licenses but stated that additional information regarding the investigation and licenses will be released sometime in February. Franchise Tax Texas and Delaware, and resulted . Follow the instructions on the. If possible, you must complete one of these requirements before filing the application: If it is not possible to meet any of the above practice requirements, you may filethe application and request the Boards approval of an alternate supervised practice plan. More than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas were awarded in an alleged scheme to sell fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts. Board Orders associated with disciplinary actions are available in DELPROSs Search and Verify. Click HERE for Important Information for Licensees struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues. Investigating agents spent weeks combing through upwards of 10,000 records from nursing schools to move the investigation forward. Public Meetings (f)Any person licensed under this chapter who desires to retire from practice in this State shall so notify the Board. Do not begin orientation or employment until you are assigned a temporary permit number. Although they still had to take the exam, the bogus credentials allowed them to skip vital steps of the competency and licensure process, officials said -- and once licensed, those individuals were able to find a job in the health care field. Delaware State Code Carefully read the instructions about when you may apply. of Is nature skipping another season? You only have six (6) months to submit your application once you begin. Copyright © 2023 Becker's Healthcare. Federal authorities charged 25 people across five states for participating in a fraudulent scheme to sell fabricated nursing school diplomas and transcripts, the Department of Health and Human. Laws, c. 153; 57 Del. The state (or other jurisdiction) on the identification you provide is considered your home state of residence. All of us feel this is egregious, said Dr. Pamela Zickafoose, the Executive Director of Delawares Board of Nursing. If you dont have a drivers license or official identification from the Division of Motor Vehicles, you may submit a voter registration card, federal tax return, military form 2058 or a Form W-2 showing your home state of residence. Submit an endorsement application only ifyou currently hold an active Nursing license of the same type in another jurisdiction (state, U.S. territory or District of Columbia) and you havenever held a Delaware Nursing license of the same type. The sweeping enforcement action spanned five states: Florida, New York, New Jersey, Texas and Delaware, and resulted in more than two dozen criminal wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy charges. 26 nurses in Delaware had their licenses annulled in connection to this. Napoleon received largepayments for providing the fake diplomas, in one case taking in a $30,000 wire transfer from a co-defendant in 2021. The students paid a total of $114 million for the fake degrees between 2016 and 2021, the newspaper reported. "For them, it was worth the investment, or the risk," Aybar told ABC News. "As we started to poke through them we noticed there were no real courses the individuals took -- it was simply a cash mill," Aybar said. Voting & Elections Nursing candidates who allegedly participated in the scheme would pay as much as $15,000 for the fraudulent diplomas, officials said. On Wednesday, the Justice Department released details of what is being dubbed Operation Nightingale in honor of Florence Nightingale. Defendants in the alleged scheme, if convicted, face a statutory maximum of 20 years in jail for the charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, the DOJ said. so they were able to get their nursing licenses. Laws, c. 372, 1; 70 Del. Voting & Elections For future renewals, this must be done within the year prior to your current license expiration date. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing and its state regulatory bodies have also been working closely with state and federal authorities to identify and monitor individuals who allegedly purchased the fake nursing degrees.