Nybon Nursing School Under Investigation

I finished my LPN-RN program from Carleen Health Institute. I took the NCLEX under New York state board and passed the exam. I'd been waiting on the license a couple of weeks and decided to call NYbon, was told the school is under review - hence they would not be issuing any licenses till the review is done. They also wouldn't give a time frame. Does anyone have any idea how long these reviews usually take or what could be done in situations like this?

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Anyone having attended the schools in question: Siena College in Broward County, Fla., Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, Fla., and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County will not be able to obtain a license in NY state unless they enroll and graduate from an a NY state approved or out of state accredited nursing program. Nor will they be able to obtain new license in any other state due to OIG lawsuit.

From the ABC News article... Feds announce massive takedown of fraudulent nursing diploma scheme

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Investigating agents spent weeks combing through upwards of 10,000 records from nursing schools to move the investigation forward. "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....

...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.

Alleged participants in the scheme backdated the diplomas and transcripts they were selling, to make them appear legitimate, authorities said. Applicants would use those forged diplomas, transcripts and additional records to obtain licensure in various states -- then, once licensed, applicants could then use those fraudulent documents to get nursing jobs "with unwitting health care providers throughout the country," according to officials....

In addition to the charges filed against those accused of selling the fraudulent materials, Aybar told ABC News that investigation will continue, with additional action possible against applicants who allegedly purchased the bogus credentials. Federal law enforcement has been "in lockstep" with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing from the beginning, he said.

Full information about Operation Nightingale can be obtained at the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) website

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Fraudulent Nursing Diploma Scheme Leads to Federal Charges Against 25 Defendants

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According to three recently unsealed indictments returned by a South Florida federal grand jury and two informations filed by federal prosecutors, defendants engaged in a scheme to sell fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to individuals seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs).

The bogus diplomas and transcripts qualified purchasers to sit for the national nursing board exam and, after passing it, to obtain licenses and jobs in various states as RNs and LPN/VNs.  The overall scheme involved the distribution of more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas issued by three South Florida-based nursing schools: Siena College in Broward County, Fla., Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, Fla., and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County. These schools are now closed.

"Health care fraud is nothing new to South Florida, as many scammers see this as a way to earn easy, though illegal, money, "said acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough, FBI Miami. "What is disturbing about this investigation is that there are over 7,600 people around the country with fraudulent nursing credentials who are potentially in critical health care roles treating patients. Were it not for the diligence and hard work of the investigators on this case, the extent of this fraud may not have been discovered.”

As the investigators went through 10,000 documents identifying names of 7,600 those granted diplomas without having taken courses--- anyone who obtained a license using fraudulent credentials, expect contact from OIG investigators and may be arrested for fraud with revocation of nursing license.

Other Florida Nursing programs with low NCLEX pass rates will be under the same microscope examining if graduates really took nursing classes and attended clinical training.  One can find your schools pass rate here:  FL BON NCLEX .    2022 CARLEEN HEALTH INSTITUTE OF SOUTH FLORIDA - WEST PALM BEACH had several periods where >75%  graduate NCLEX test takers FAILED NCLEX, so NY state is taking close look.  Definitely keep any  enrollment records, report cards, classwork, teaching material from this school as proof you attended in case investigators come calling.

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I am upset that FL storefront nursing programs taking your money without providing the education to become a practical /professional nurse especially at a time LPNs and RN's desperately needed.

Specializes in oncology.

All the leaders of the ANA should be fired. Where were you when all this was going on? You do nothing but write letters when our profession is threatened (as you did writing ineffectual letters doing Covid). You DO NOTHING to maintain standards for entry level nursing but PUSH the AACN exams and Magnet status. 

How about helping those new graduates or those just trying to enter  nursing ? The ANA does nothing but sell your name that sends mail ads......car insurance, etc.

Years ago I enrolled in INA paying full annual dues and an additional payment for the Illinois Convention. The speaker did NOT show up. After waiting 20 minutes in the room I asked the administer "what's up?" I got told "oh the speaker must not have come". Too late to attend another talk. 

This is crazy some of us actually put in the work. I transferred my credits from a different school to there because I had to move to a different state and we had online classes because it was COVID time. 

I graduated in 2020 from a Florida program and just passed NCLEX 1/11/23. I called NY BON and license is on hold pending review. I am assuming because everything going on, they are reviewing all schools from Florida. I failed early on and didn't try again until now. Didn't know all of this was going on until news came on. Decided to give BON the call and that's when they told me license is on hold pending review. That's real *** luck but that's what procrastinating gets you. Hopefully they don't take too long to review and issue my license. Good day everyone.

G_Status said:

I graduated in 2020 from a Florida program and just passed NCLEX 1/11/23. I called NY BON and license is on hold pending review. I am assuming because everything going on, they are reviewing all schools from Florida. I failed early on and didn't try again until now. Didn't know all of this was going on until news came on. Decided to give BON the call and that's when they told me license is on hold pending review. That's real *** luck but that's what procrastinating gets you. Hopefully they don't take too long to review and issue my license. Good day everyone.

Which school did u graduate from?

Apple19 said:

Which school did u graduate from?

Sigma Institute of Health Careers

G_Status said:

I graduated in 2020 from a Florida program and just passed NCLEX 1/11/23. I called NY BON and license is on hold pending review. I am assuming because everything going on, they are reviewing all schools from Florida. I failed early on and didn't try again until now. Didn't know all of this was going on until news came on. Decided to give BON the call and that's when they told me license is on hold pending review. That's real *** luck but that's what procrastinating gets you. Hopefully they don't take too long to review and issue my license. Good day everyone.

Everything happens for a reason. Even when we don't know what that reason is.

T Jasmine said:

Everything happens for a reason. Even when we don't know what that reason is.

This is so very true. I went from being extremely happy from finally passing back to that same struggling feeling when studying and hoping to pass. Like you said everything happens for a reason so only time will tell.

G_Status said:

Sigma Institute of Health Careers

 

Sigma is no longer approved on FBON. Is that why they NYBON is not issuing license & investigating?

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

https://allnurses.com/schools-fire-fake-degrees-caught-t749161/

Lexus L. said:

Sigma is no longer approved on FBON. Is that why they NYBON is not issuing license & investigating?

Possibly but when I graduated it was approved at the time so shouldn't they still issue me the license?

G_Status said:

This is so very true. I went from being extremely happy from finally passing back to that same struggling feeling when studying and hoping to pass. Like you said everything happens for a reason so only time will tell.

You're not alone love. A lot of people are feeling the same exact way right now. We just can't lose faith.

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