Fake Nursing School Scammed Me

I am having such a terrible time. I went to a school named Ideal Professional Institute in Florida and paid $16,000 dollars for an associates degree. I did everything including the HESI online while proctored and attended clinicals  in person, and I currently live in Houston.

After I graduated and applied for NCLEX, the Texas board of nursing is rejecting my application and several other students. I just found out that the school is under probation in Florida for LVN and is permanently banned for RN. I did RN.

The school officials are refusing to give me my refund. I sent my affidavit of graduation and they are not replying to TBON's demands. I feel stuck and they won't refund my money. I am so depressed.

How do I get a refund? I'm poor so I can't afford a lawyer, How do I report the school and get it shut down? They are still scamming other students currently. 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks, Suebee found the article:

TAMPA BAY TIMES 12/19/2022

Florida's nursing pipeline is broken as many would-be nurses fail their exams

Pass rates on the national licensing exam are the lowest in the nation, with dire implications for health care.

Quote

...Fewer than two-thirds of them passed the exam in 2021. That's the lowest pass rate in the United States — falling more than 17 percentage points below the national average, according to a new report from the Florida Center for Nursing, based at the University of South Florida.

Not all Florida nursing programs are failing. The majority of the state's public universities, community colleges and nonprofit institutions have pass rates at or above the national averages for both registered and practical nurses. The problem lies with a subset of private, for-profit programs that enroll thousands of students every year, many of which have pass rates below 50%.

The report comes amid an unprecedented nursing shortage, said Florida Hospital Association CEO Mary Mayhew.

More than one in five nursing positions at Florida hospitals is vacant, Mayhew said, and staff turnover is at a historic high.

Florida is producing more licensed nurses than ever before. More than 12,400 registered nurses passed the national exam in 2021, up nearly 30% in the past five years. It's the largest graduating class of licensed nurses in the nation, but still not enough to meet soaring demand.

The state is heading for a cliff unless educators can graduate more nurses capable of passing the final exam, said Rayna Letourneau, an assistant professor of nursing at USF and executive director of the Florida Center for Nursing, which is focusing on finding ways to ease the shortage....

Quote

On average, the pass rate at for-profit programs was less than 60% in 2021. That rate is even lower in southern Florida where average pass rates at for-profit schools fell below 50%.

Compare that to the nearly 84% of registered nursing students from Florida's public universities and colleges who passed the exam in 2021 — nearly 20 percentage points higher than the statewide rate and on par with the national average. Private nonprofit schools across the state performed similarly well....

....In 2021, 187 graduates from the Florida College of Health Science took the national exam — only 48 passed. Between 2014 and 2021, the for-profit school with locations in Tampa and Orlando has never had a pass rate above 30%. In those years, more than 600 students left the school unable to become a licensed nurse.

[Myra Myra, ASN, CNA]

screenshot evidence...

   

[SuzyZ]

I reported this school to the FBI this morning.  When I called the number listed on the website to verify the graduation date of one of their supposed students, they refused to cooperate.  The lady I spoke to hung up on me when I mentioned Operation Nightengale.  SO many red flags.  Even when she answered there was music on in the background and it sounded as if she was answering a cell phone and not a business line.  Very unprofessional.  I told her my concern for public safety and she did not care.  I have an employee that has been telling me for the last 2 years that she's studying for NCLEX (huge red flag to not take the NCLEX within a few months after graduating).  Finally I started asking more questions as to why she hasn't take it yet and more red flags appeared, consistent with what Operation Nightengale is telling employers to look out for.

 I'd say report to the FBI.  Hopefully you can join a class action lawsuit one day against them.  Sometimes we make mistakes in life or get taken advantage of.  Look for an accredited nursing school to go to with a high NCLEX pass rate.  That tells you that school is preparing their students well.  I needed online option also and went to a hybrid program from UT Arlington in Texas.  I highly recommend that school.

Lastly, like my mom always told me - "If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is".  Anything worth having does not come easy.  Nursing school was one of the most challenging times in my life, but it prepared me to do life saving work.  We take an oath to "do no harm".  What these fraudulent schools are doing, passing out fake diplomas and transcripts is despicable and life threatening to the public.

[Sally w]

There's a RN program located in Florida School of nursing advertises in California all though they are approved in Florida ONLY! Not accredited. The have hundreds of Californians waiting for licenses to work in California

after years students have passed NCLEX back in 2022 and still no licenses in California . I attended this school. They do not require an entrance exam to get in. They promise fast graduation 16 months and your done. You have to be very careful of Florida nursing schools. Do not go off friendships recommendations. Do your own research on any schools you invest your money in. California does not have any approved online or hybrid nursing programs in Florida look on the California BRN. If they aren't on the list and the school is not accredited do not Go! 

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Sally w said:

There's a RN program located in Florida School of nursing advertises in California all though they are approved in Florida ONLY! Not accredited. The have hundreds of Californians waiting for licenses to work in California

after years students have passed NCLEX back in 2022 and still no licenses in California . I attended this school. They do not require an entrance exam to get in. They promise fast graduation 16 months and your done. You have to be very careful of Florida nursing schools. Do not go off friendships recommendations. Do your own research on any schools you invest your money in. California does not have any approved online or hybrid nursing programs in Florida look on the California BRN. If they aren't on the list and the school is not accredited do not Go! 

Can't like this enough.  Florida is failing in their unwillingness to police these for profits but some blame goes to our gullible students who aren't here asking questions before they hand over their money.  

[Sally w]

I see lots of suggestions and resources being provided in here regarding FL Nursing Schools. I've have dealt with attorneys several across different states in attempts to nail fraudulent nursing school I went to offering california residence an RN program. As far as I know this school is still operating to unsuspecting people in California to date. It's hard to sue if you're now willing to throw thousands in attorneys fees. If the school has no insurance then you or your attorney fees will probably not be reimbursed.  If a school is Approved in FL and you live in a different state! That is red flag number one! Getting help from Florida department of education well don't count on any government agency. Stay away from these sketchy schools no matter what they tell you. If its not in writing it didn't happen legally. Working in Florida as an RN is not worth my time because get piad more at my day job in California! 

[RNrhythm, BSN, RN]

Oh no!  That was my worst fear.  My heart goes out to you. I wonder if it would be any help to seek out a public advocacy news reporter? Sometimes they can get things moving by helping bring attention to your plight.

[londonflo]

21 hours ago, faithjohn said:

Can you contact the Board of Education. That seems against the law to withhold information on hard earned degree. 

https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/first-district-court-of-appeal/2021/19-4423.html

I think this citation relates to a recent statute that any licensed nursing program needs to become accredited by 5 years after starting by a nursing program accreditor.  Otherwise they are closed.

I find this very sad that the Florida BON does not have the power to police it's own nursing programs. Instead, a school must apply and meet a nursing progammatic accreditation, and those accreditors have guidelines on passing boards. ACEN and CCNE can refuse accreditation on pass rates alone. Florida lets them be the bullies. 

For example, in my state not every program is nursing accredited but must be approved by the state BON. If a program has 3 continuous years where they do not pass at the national rate the BON revokes approval. 

Sad that Florida does not give their BON that power. Instead the legislature has essentially said "let's let the ACEN or CCNE accreditors" take care of those bad programs. 

[klone, MSN, RN]

Did you pay cash or take out a student loan? I believe the feds are cancelling student loan debt for situations like that - where the school went out of business.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

21 hours ago, londonflo said:

I think this citation relates to a recent statute that any licensed nursing program needs to become accredited by 5 years after starting by a nursing program accreditor.  Otherwise they are closed.

I find this very sad that the Florida BON does not have the power to police it's own nursing programs. Instead, a school must apply and meet a nursing progammatic accreditation, and those accreditors have guidelines on passing boards. ACEN and CCNE can refuse accreditation on pass rates alone. Florida lets them be the bullies. 

For example, in my state not every program is nursing accredited but must be approved by the state BON. If a program has 3 continuous years where they do not pass at the national rate the BON revokes approval. 

Sad that Florida does not give their BON that power. Instead the legislature has essentially said "let's let the ACEN or CCNE accreditors" take care of those bad programs. 

 

On 3/25/2022 at 4:07 PM, Soy Dora said:

I am having such a terrible time. I went to a school named Ideal Professional Institute in Florida and paid $16,000 dollars for an associates degree. I did everything including the HESI online while proctored and attended clinicals  in person, and I currently live in Houston.

After I graduated and applied for NCLEX, the Texas board of nursing is rejecting my application and several other students. I just found out that the school is under probation in Florida for LVN and is permanently banned for RN. I did RN.

The school officials are refusing to give me my refund. I sent my affidavit of graduation and they are not replying to TBON’s demands. I feel stuck and they won’t refund my money. I am so depressed.

How do I get a refund? I’m poor so I can’t afford a lawyer, How do I report the school and get it shut down? They are still scamming other students currently. 

In addition to the other advice you have  received, use you own social media accounts to spread the word as far and wide as possible.  Getting a story in your local newspaper is a good start.  Reporters enjoy exposing muckery.  Good luck with your efforts to get this place closed down.  But just the name "Ideal Professional Institute" should be a huge red flag.  Florida:( - 

[londonflo]

2 hours ago, subee said:

Florida:( -

I am admitting I do not know about a lot of programs other than my state and what I read about Florida programs (pass rates, on AN etc) but I think Florida has really created a "program problem" here:

Many schools are not accredited (many just approved)

Clinical practice is limited to a few weeks each semester - not concurrent- and some clinicals are not in Florida proper. Concurrent clinical requires the faculty to offer clinical learning experiences that assist the student to apply classroom content

Many schools are in strip malls. School administrators do not have to be 'on board' the school until a short time before the school opens. No long term plan is in place.

When graduates fail the NCLEX 3 times in Florida, they have to remediate, and the remediation programs are at the 'prime offender' schools to begin with. 

 

[RuralMOSchoolRN, ADN, RN]

Just spit balling, but would you be able to take the NCLEX in Florida? Then, once you have a license in one state it is usually just a matter of paperwork and a little money to license in another state...