TNA - Texas Nurses Association

01/27/2023 | Press release | Archived content

Texas Nurses Association Responds to Fraudulent Nursing Diploma Arrests »

Friday, January 27, 2023 (0 Comments)
Posted by: Gabi Nintunze
For Immediate Release

January 27, 2023

Contact: Lisa Maxwell

Texas Nurses Association

512.452.0648 x 130

Texas Nurses Association Responds to Fraudulent Nursing Diploma Arrests

Circumventing legitimate nursing education undermines public trust and endangers public health.

Austin, TX - In the wake of the recent announcement that federal law enforcement has arrested and charged more than two dozen individuals in a nationwide fraudulent nursing school diploma and credentialing scheme, the Texas Nurses Association (TNA) seeks to assure Texans that professional nurses must adhere to the Nursing Code of Ethics and are committed to providing high-quality, professional care.

"The reports that some of the indicted individuals are in the state of Texas is deeply disturbing. This egregious act is not reflective of the nursing code of ethics nor the values of professional Texas nurses who put patients first every day," said Serena Bumpus, DPN, RN, NEA-BC, CEO of TNA. "A degree in nursing is one of the most difficult to obtain due to the rigorous coursework and skills required. Our education prepares us to provide safe patient care. The fact that a group of individuals chose to disregard the importance of this training is shocking, especially since nurses have been the most trusted profession for more than two decades. This undermines the integrity of our profession." Investigations are ongoing and confidential, however, to date TNA has not learned of any patient harm caused by these individuals.

"This disturbing news of a coordinated conspiracy allowing individuals to circumvent necessary coursework and clinical experiences as well as critical steps in the nursing licensure and credentialing process, is extremely unsettling," said American Nurses Association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN. "Nursing is without a doubt a highly specialized and ethical profession requiring rigorous and life-long education and training to acquire unmatched clinical expertise. You don't achieve this overnight. There are no shortcuts in nursing - our patients and clients depend on us. It is both a demanding and rewarding profession that requires individuals to be adaptive to the evolving and complex health care landscape to ensure the delivery of safe and quality patient care."