Every nurse in the world knows who Florence Nightingale is. Otherwise known as the “Lady with the Lamp,” she was credited as the founder of modern nursing. Her environmental theory helped soldiers who fought in the Crimean War recover. That very theory included seven assumptions. One of which is:

Nursing requires a specific educational base.

So what has that got to do with “Operation Nightingale” you may ask? Or better yet, what is it?

By the way, here are the links to the podcast: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/K60xP87cVwb and https://open.spotify.com/episode/4XYVmH60kkd9pxj3BdRdS6?si=c13d8248190f474f

What is Known, So Far

A couple of days ago, the Office of the Inspector General, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported a massive nursing diploma fraudulent scheme. Dubbed “Operation Nightingale,” federal agents executed multi-state warrants which resulted in 25 individuals being charged.

The HHS website stated that more than 7,600 fake diplomas and school records were issued across five states. Those fake credentials were used by candidates to be able to sit for the board exams. Upon passing the test, they were eligible to obtain licenses and the rights to practice nursing.

NewsNation cited that those fake diplomas and school credentials cost interested parties $15,000.00 each. The authorities identified three nursing schools in South Florida as the source of those records. They ceased operations when investigations commenced.

http://pexels-john-guccione-wwwadvergroupcom-3483098

The Most Trusted Profession

The Gallup Poll, once again, adjudged nursing as the most trusted profession for the 21st year. It is sad that news like “Operation Nightingale” smear this fact. Majority of nurses are honest, hardworking people who genuinely aim to take care of and make a difference in the lives of their respective patients or clients. However, a few rotten eggs such as those who cheated with their credentials besmirch this reality.

I don’t think any nurse will argue with me if I mention that nursing school was, and is still, not a cakewalk. In fact, it is surviving struggles with academics, clinicals, and a continuous balancing act day after day. Looking back, I am sure that everyone will agree that those challenges during our nursing student days prepared us to become the resilient and caring nurses that we are today.

The High Demand for Nurses

For those who are in the field, we already know that there has been a persistent need for nurses. Oftentimes, we work short-staffed and have been told to just “make do” with the meager resources we have. I should know, I was a permanent Charge Nurse in my past life. During staffing huddles, there was a constant discussion regarding which unit deserves to get the available nurse. When I was orienting as a night shift supervisor, I asked my preceptor how she was able to triage which need weighed more than the other.

They always stated that patient acuity mattered. Personally, I’d take it with a grain of salt. Patient acuity, while a good measure, of determining staffing needs, the fact is, the availability of help is the foremost factor to consider. For example, based on acuity, a Med-Surg unit needs five nurses. However, there are only three available nurses. Guess what happens? Yep, that unit works with three nurses!

That was the story of my life when I was working as an Assistant Manager in Med-Surg Oncology. Twenty-four patients were divided among three of us. I distinctly remembered a shift when I had eight patients. One was receiving chemotherapy, another had a full-blown Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome with Kaposi’s sarcoma, and another needed peritoneal dialysis (PD). While setting up my PD, my trusted Certified Nursing Assistant was calling a “Code Blue” over the intercom.

Yes, you guessed it right. That was my patient, too! The energizer bunny in me was alive and was on an Adrenaline-high that night!

Unmasking of the Nursing Shortage

With the pandemic placing nursing in the spotlight, the rest of the world realized how bad the nursing shortage really is. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected that an average of 203,200 new nurses are needed yearly. And that is just in the United States alone. According to the National Library of Medicine, shortages will even worsen due to retirement or increasing age, high turnover, and lack of nursing educators.

Despite exploring alternative educational means due to the pandemic challenges, we still don’t produce enough well-educated nurses. For this reason, states are looking forward to importing more nurses from other countries. Needless to say, there are also many challenges associated with this band-aid solution.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Nursing is already bursting at the seams. Unfortunately, “Operation Nightingale” is just one of those “taking advantage” of the situation occurrences that made a few people’s pockets filled with cash. Those of the schools’ leaders who orchestrated this scheme. And yes, most especially of those nurses cum frauds!

Can you imagine how much money they may have made if they worked as travelers during the height of the pandemic? More importantly, what patient safety practices were jeopardized by these conscience-less fakes?

I am all about empowering the younger nurses and inspiring the aspiring ones. That said, I don’t condone colleagues who got their credentials in a fraudulent manner. If you are the patient or a family member, would you entrust your care to someone who may not really know what they are doing? I know I won’t!