Fake Nursing School Scammed Me

Nurses General Nursing Nursing Q/A

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. 

Specializes in Occupational Health.

I'm confused. How, exactly, were you "scammed" if you paid $16K and were conferred/received an associate's degree? It just sounds like you graduated from an extremely poor school that has been forbidden to confer any more RN associate degrees. Unfortunately, you got what you paid for. Not only do you find it unacceptable but it sounds like other State BON's agree with you. 

So...not "scammed". Just an extremely poor decision with poor outcome.

Sadly, this is the reason everyone needs to be Buyer Beware.  You're going to spend $16k on a used car?  You take it to a mechanic before you buy it.  Spending $16k on a nursing program?  Gotta do your due diligence and figure out if the school is reputable and BON will accept their Auth to Test. 

Specializes in oncology.
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"Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” This is one of the most famous sentences in all of English literature. It is a line written by the poet, Alexander Pope.

Chickenlady said:

Sadly, this is the reason everyone needs to be Buyer Beware.  You're going to spend $16k on a used car?  You take it to a mechanic before you buy it.  Spending $16k on a nursing program? 

I do agree, but I think these Florida approved but only slightly legitimate programs know how to convince someone. I emailed one program and was granted attendance to a Zoom session....oh they are very good at describing how easy it is to get accepted, complete the program and graduate. Very slick. Every question I had on graduation rates and NCLEX results was quickly dismissed. 

We need to stop these programs in Florida! Where are the legislators?  Where is the ANA in this? They let BONs in other states try to clean up the mess.  

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
londonflo said:

I do agree, but I think these Florida approved but only slightly legitimate programs know how to convince someone. I emailed one program and was granted attendance to a Zoom session....oh they are very good at describing how easy it is to get accepted, complete the program and graduate. Very slick. Every question I had on graduation rates and NCLEX results was quickly dismissed. 

We need to stop these programs in Florida! Where are the legislators?  Where is the ANA in this? They let BONs in other states try to clean up the mess.  

Good luck during this DeSantis administration.  Their motto is "Keep all businesses up and running, legitimate or not."  A good class-action lawsuit is needed here but it's up to the disillusioned students to do the work it will take to get one up and running.  If they were so naive to sign up for such an obviously loser program, I'm not sure if they posess the sophistication to get this movement started.  However, I think the problem starts with the state of Florida and they ability to close their eyes, ears and mouths on any kind of disreputable commerce.  It's a mentality that keeps me from ever returning to that state since my mother died:)  

Specializes in oncology.
1 hour ago, subee said:

However, I think the problem starts with the state of Florida and they ability to close their eyes, ears and mouths on any kind of disreputable commerce. 

I agree. But I wish the ANA and the NLN (for which I paid many years of dues for) would look out for our profession and eliminate the scam programs. I think these organizations should protect the public (and aspiring nursing students) from scams. I am just so disgusted by the states that allow these programs, the professional organizations that turn a blind eye and the politicians that allow these programs to flourish.

But on AN try to talk a prospective student out of these programs. First of all there is little to no information on the internet sites of these rip- off programs. No stats on graduation or NCLEX rates. Just a place to "ask for more information". Some of these programs have grammatical errors on the descriptions of the programs evidencing they just don't give a ****.  Poor proofreading etc.  Isn't' this a great clue? 

 The rhetoric the programs employ when they contact you is vague but promising great things. 

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
34 minutes ago, londonflo said:

I agree. But I wish the ANA and the NLN (for which I paid many years of dues for) would look out for our profession and eliminate the scam programs. I think these organizations should protect the public (and aspiring nursing students) from scams. I am just so disgusted by the states that allow these programs, the professional organizations that turn a blind eye and the politicians that allow these programs to flourish.

But on AN try to talk a prospective student out of these programs. First of all there is little to no information on the internet sites of these rip- off programs. No stats on graduation or NCLEX rates. Just a place to "ask for more information". Some of these programs have grammatical errors on the descriptions of the programs evidencing they just don't give a ****.  Poor proofreading etc.  Isn't' this a great clue? 

 The rhetoric the programs employ when they contact you is vague but promising great things. 

We should have a forum section "Nursing Schools to Avoid".  

Specializes in oncology.
25 minutes ago, subee said:

We should have a forum section "Nursing Schools to Avoid". 

I totally agree.

  But I have confronted several people on AN who recommend unaccredited  schools and they get angry...telling me "I did fine, I taught myself and my daughter is going there now" "I had to work full time so needed an online program with a clustered clinical". Oh Boy I have been there, subee. But we just need to keep reinforcing that going from an LPN to an RN is not easy, not just $16,000 away. 

Here is an example of  things I would question on this LPN to RN program's web site:

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All courses and required community clinical projects will be completed in your local area. Our program offers direction from  (1)faculties that have (2) first-hand knowledge of experience specific to this curriculum or have participated in online educational experiences.

(1)  misspelling or grammatical errors

(2) lack of nursing faculty qualifications in total cited

Does this statement provide reassurance that you will pass the program and succeed with NCLEX?

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By getting our nursing programs, you can not only advance your nursing education but may meet the need for qualified nurses.

 

Specializes in LTC.

My heart goes to you, I had the almost same experience but good thing I got my money back, do you have proof to show that you paid the school fee ie receipts? if so maybe you can talk to your bank and see what will happen. Also from what I know even if the school is under probation students can still take NCLEX, maybe you wanna go to Florida and do your NCLEX from there? 

On 3/31/2022 at 7:41 PM, Chickenlady said:

 Gotta do your due diligence and figure out if the school is reputable and BON will accept their Auth to Test. 

What student who has never taken the NCLEX or completed nursing school knows what 'Authorization to Test' is? They just want to get it. It's unfortunate but no one knows how important that is until their waiting for that authorization when nursing school is completed. 

Specializes in school nurse.
20 hours ago, londonflo said:

I agree. But I wish the ANA and the NLN (for which I paid many years of dues for) would look out for our profession and eliminate the scam programs. I think these organizations should protect the public (and aspiring nursing students) from scams. I am just so disgusted by the states that allow these programs, the professional organizations that turn a blind eye and the politicians that allow these programs to flourish.

Unfortunately, the ANA does bupkis to look out for actual nurses; don't hold your breath waiting for them to advocate for students...

Specializes in oncology.
1 hour ago, Jedrnurse said:

ANA does bupkis to look out for actual nurses;

But they push their certification exams... and that is just money in their pocket. What about the students who aspire to be RNs......silence from ANA. There is no money there.  They found another way to make money....Magnet status!

Specializes in school nurse.
1 hour ago, londonflo said:

But they push their certification exams... and that is just money in their pocket. What about the students who aspire to be RNs......silence from ANA. There is no money there.  They found another way to make money....Magnet status!

Magnet status is conferred by the ANA? I didn't know that...

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