U.S. nursing boards issue guidance to spot fake nurses

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES — The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) issued new guidance to help employers and educators detect and prevent fraud in nursing credentials. 

This initiative comes in response to recent scandals involving fake nursing diplomas and licenses, which pose significant risks to patient safety and public trust in the healthcare system.

The pervasive issue of nursing credential fraud

Fraud in nursing can manifest in various ways, including obtaining false nursing diplomas, forging licenses, lying about work history, and concealing criminal backgrounds. 

These fraudulent activities allow unqualified individuals to gain employment or further education in the nursing field, potentially endangering patients and undermining the integrity of the profession.

NCSBN’s recommendations for fraud detection and prevention

The NCSBN’s guidance outlines several critical steps for institutions to enhance their fraud detection capabilities:

1. Training and Awareness: Institutions should provide initial and ongoing fraud detection training for all personnel involved in reviewing and accepting applicants.
2. Closing Loopholes: Identify and close any loopholes that could be exploited to bypass rules or laws.
3. Vigilance in Requirements: Be extra vigilant if your institution has fewer requirements than others, as fraudulent individuals often seek the easiest entry routes.
4. License Verification: Use nursys.com to verify that every applicant has a valid, unencumbered license.
5. Program Approval: Ensure that the nursing program from which the applicant graduated is approved by the Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB) in the state where the program is located.
6. Reference Checks: Verify references, especially from former employers and educational institutions, and request business email addresses for authenticity.
7. Document Review: Carefully review all transcripts and other documents for signs of fraud. Detailed guidance on this process is available in the NCSBN’s Licensure of Internationally Educated Nurses Resource Manual.
8. e-Notify Enrollment: Institutions should have an Institution e-Notify account to receive real-time notifications about the licensure and disciplinary status of their nurses.
9. Red Flags: Be alert to inconsistencies in applications and transcripts, such as unusual timeframes for degree completion or discrepancies in course sequencing.
10. Reporting Fraud: Report any nurse who has provided fraudulent information or is deemed unsafe to the NRB to prevent them from moving to another institution and posing further risks.

Collaborative effort to safeguard the nursing profession

While the majority of nurses are honest and competent, the NCSBN emphasizes the importance of vigilance and thorough verification processes to protect the public and maintain trust in the healthcare system. 

Numerous nursing organizations and leaders in the field support the guidance, underscoring its critical role in safeguarding the profession.

The guidance is endorsed by several prominent organizations, including the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the National League for Nursing, among others.

By implementing these recommendations, nursing programs and employers can better detect and prevent fraud, ensuring that only qualified and trustworthy individuals enter the nursing profession.