Around the time the nursing profession achieved the highest ethics rating for the 21st year in a row, the news broke that over 7,000 individuals bought phony nursing school diplomas and transcripts that enabled them to fraudulently sit for the NCLEX to obtain LPN/LVN and RN licenses.1,2 While the organizers of this fraud got richer, they allowed these people to gain licensure and practice in various US hospitals without the validated competency assessment that is the foundation of a nursing school education.
Those who knowingly paid large sums of money for fake documents placed a higher value on fraudulent means to gain a nursing position over the clear-cut risks to patient safety and the violation of trust it poses. Because these individuals never attended nursing school, they did not learn about patient safety or the high level of integrity expected of nurses. They also undermined societal trust in the existing process to obtain nursing licensure, including questioning the rigor of the NCLEX exam itself. Boards of nursing and state prosecutors are taking action to invalidate, annul, and revoke licenses obtained through fraudulent means and criminally prosecute perpetrators involved in the scheme.
A Latin phrase is inscribed on my high school class ring: "Esse Quam Videri." Roughly translated, it means: "To be, rather than to seem." It is the choice to take the ethical high road, do the requisite work, and gain the knowledge, skills, and experience legitimately instead of bypassing these steps to illegitimately gain status by whatever means available.
Earned achievement is personally and professionally fulfilling, representing a person's integrity and character. The scheme that spawned fraudulent nurses exemplified an assassination attempt on the character and integrity of our profession. It will undoubtedly leave members of society wondering if they are dealing with a real nurse in healthcare settings until every one of these illegitimate nurses is identified and removed from practice.
As you look ahead to May's Nursing Month celebrations, do not forget to applaud yourself for being a Real Nurse and all of the hard work, time, and accomplishment that went into earning legitimate nursing credentials.
Until next time,
LINDA LASKOWSKI-JONES, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CEN, NEA-BC, FAWM, FAAN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NURSING2023
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