Operation Nightingale

Operation Nightingale is the name of an investigation conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and federal law enforcement partners on fraudulently issued nursing transcripts and nursing programs. The HHS-OIG has shared information on this matter with all state boards of nursing to prevent additional fraud or harm to the public.   

The SDBON is and has taken appropriate actions to protect South Dakota related to this matter. Licensure staff review all applications and transcripts; if determined to be fraudulent, the Board may deny licensure.

Only applicants who completed a nursing program approved by a state board of nursing are eligible to be issued a South Dakota nursing license or to be made eligible to sit for the national nurse licensing exam.