“As a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
The healthcare field has always had a growing need for healthcare workers. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, it takes a person with a warrior-like mentality to want to step up and ask how can I help? Unfortunately, no good deeds nor good-natured people go unpunished. At the beginning of the year, it was made public that more than 7,000 fraudulent nursing degrees were administered.
“A group of nurses and doctors who want to empower men and woman by helping them become health care providers” is how they marketed their scheme. They preyed upon people that want to make a positive contribution to society. They were well versed in loop-holes and fast-tracked their applicants while getting rich. For roughly $16,000 they would provide an associate degree that did not require the applicant to go through the normal coursework nor special training required to receive this degree. They would use schools that were either closed or on probation. They were clever enough to know that certain states, New York for example, allows potential nurses to take the certifying nurse exam an unlimited number of times, and as a result would encourage their applicant’s to take tests through them.
The masterminds, Geralda Adrien, and Woosvelt Predestin may face up to twenty years imprisonment for each charge they receive for the fraud that was committed. At least twenty-five other employees were charged in connection to these crimes.
How can Research Services be of assistance? We urge any of our clients in the healthcare field to review where their applicants obtained their degrees or certifications. The following schools have been linked to the fraudulent degrees issued:
- Palm Beach School of Nursing
- Sacred Heart International Institute
- Siena College
Additionally, when we provide education verifications, our first step in the process is verifying that the educational institution is recognized and accredited.
Contact us today to verify if your potential or current healthcare workers received their education through recognized sources.
