Iowa LPN Awarded Probationary RN License After Diploma-Mill Credentials Surrender
An Iowa nurse’s path from practicing under questioned education records to a probationary new license raises tough questions about accountability, remediation, and state boards’ second chances.
Lizette Ngamalue of Johnston, Iowa was granted a new registered nurse (RN) license by the Iowa Board of Nursing after working three years as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) under credentials tied to diploma-mill programs.
The case highlights how regulators probe nursing education issues and balance rehabilitation with patient safety.
Iowa board records show Ngamalue received her LPN license in March 2020 and practiced for about three years using credentials from programs later implicated in Operation Nightingale, the federal crackdown on fake nursing diplomas.
Schools she listed—the National School of Nursing and Allied Health, plus Siena Education Center—faced scrutiny for diploma-mill activity, questioning whether she legitimately completed the reported education.
Discovery and License Surrender
As Operation Nightingale unfolded, regulators began reviewing licenses tied to implicated schools, including Ngamalue’s Iowa LPN credentials, which investigators found unacceptable and linked to diploma-mill programs.
In July 2023, she agreed to surrender her license. Board documents also flagged her Florida application using a Siena degree, raising honesty concerns.
Returning to School and Seeking Relicensure
After losing her license, Ngamalue enrolled in a board‑approved nursing program in an effort to restart her career on solid ground.
By 2025, she had completed a degree from Mercy College of Health Sciences, an accredited institution, and used that verified education to support a new application for Iowa licensure. She also passed the appropriate licensing examination, meeting the state’s current educational and testing requirements for entry‑level practice.
She applied for a new RN license in May 2025 based on this credential, prompting an October board hearing on her past questioned education and candor.
October Hearing and Board Concerns
At the board’s October hearing, Ngamalue claimed she hadn’t understood her original credentials’ issues but struggled with details, saying she had “blocked out” that time. Her difficulty recalling basic information about the two schools became a key point of concern.
In its written decision, the Iowa Board of Nursing stated that while Ngamalue had now completed an accredited nursing program, she “was not forthcoming about her previous education and failed to answer basic questions about the two schools where she fraudulently obtained credits, which made the board question her sincerity.”
The board emphasized that honesty and transparency are core expectations for licensees and applicants, particularly when dealing with prior misconduct related to education and credentials.
Ultimately, the board voted to grant Ngamalue a new registered nurse (RN) license, but under strict conditions including two years’ probation, employer monitoring, job change notifications, and full practice compliance. Violations could trigger suspension.
The board recognized her new credentials and corrective steps while citing ongoing concerns about candor, choosing probation to protect patients during her return to practice.
Most nurses invest years of study, clinical practice, and financial resources to earn their credentials, which is why cases involving fake or invalid education records feel especially frustrating and unfair.
The national fallout from Operation Nightingale — with thousands of suspect diplomas identified and hundreds of licenses reviewed or annulled — has shaken confidence in some programs and raised anxiety among nurses whose schools are suddenly under scrutiny. Ngamalue’s case puts a face on what it looks like when a board tries to unwind a bad educational history while still considering present‑day competency.
Ngamalue’s journey from surrendered license to probationary RN shows the risks of questionable education and the steep road to regaining trust. For nurses facing similar scrutiny, early transparency with your board can make all the difference in protecting your career.
