As nurse practitioners, our professional licenses are more than credentials. They are symbols of trust, responsibility, and commitment. It is vital we never take them for granted, because when they are compromised, not only do we suffer, but our entire profession pays the price.

We must be vigilant: Safeguarding our licenses is on us alone

No one cares about our NP licenses as much as we do. They grant us the privilege of healing, the autonomy to serve, and the respect of patients and colleagues. But with privilege comes responsibility. Our license is a reflection of the ethical care we pledge to deliver. If that is ever compromised, it is ours alone to bear.

A stark warning from a respected colleague’s downfall

The recent case of Scharmaine Lawson Baker, DNP, serves as a deeply sobering reminder. In July 2025, a federal jury found her guilty on multiple counts of health care fraud for orchestrating a $12.1 million scheme. She ordered unnecessary genetic cancer tests for patients she often never met, sometimes through phone calls that lasted less than a minute, and she created false diagnoses to justify them. She accepted kickbacks, failed to disclose payments, and did not even review test results before submitting claims.

What makes this especially painful is that she was not an unknown figure. She was widely respected in our profession, a published author, a mentor, and someone whom many looked to for leadership. To see her fall so hard is heartbreaking. This is not only bad news for Sharmaine, but it is also damaging to all of us who work tirelessly to uphold the values of this profession.

The painful ripple effect

When a colleague as well-regarded as Scharmaine Lawson Baker is convicted of fraud, the consequences go beyond one individual. It shakes trust in our profession. It hands ammunition to those who are already against NPs, those who argue that we should not have the privileges or authority that we have worked so hard to earn.

We must be honest about this reality. The critics will seize on her story as evidence that NPs cannot be trusted, even though cases of fraud exist across every discipline, including physicians and physician assistants. Fraud is not unique to NPs. Yet, when it happens to one of our own, especially someone with a national reputation, the stain feels larger and the damage spreads further. This is why we must hold ourselves to the highest standards. Our individual actions reflect not only on us, but on every NP who carries a license and serves patients with integrity.

Lessons we must internalize

• Ethical integrity is everything. If integrity is compromised, even quietly, our credibility and our profession suffer.
• Diligence is non-negotiable. Patient care must remain at the center of every decision.
• Transparency is essential. Financial entanglements undermine trust and destroy reputations.
• Our license is irreplaceable. Once it is gone, no title, no publication, no reputation can bring it back.

A call to our colleagues

Review your practice procedures. Ask yourself whether you are consistently providing the highest level of care, documenting appropriately, and avoiding shortcuts. Stay away from any financial relationships that could be seen as conflicts of interest. Mentor one another and remind each other that our license is worth more than any outside opportunity or financial gain.

Closing thoughts

The downfall of a respected colleague is tragic. It is a loss not only for her but for all of us. It should make us pause and reflect on our own practices, our own choices, and the weight of the license we hold. Let us take this moment as a reminder. Protect your license. Protect your integrity. Protect our profession. Because no one else will do it for us.

Lynn McComas is the chief nursing officer at AMOpportunities and the founder of PreceptorLink. She is a recognized expert in precepting nurse practitioners and advanced practice provider students and has been matching preceptors since 2014. With over two decades in primary care, McComas has served as a coach, advisor, mentor, and preceptor for countless healthcare professionals, including NPs, nurses, and medical assistants. She co-founded a successful skills and procedures business and speaks nationwide on NP-related issues.

McComas is also a regular contributor on LinkedIn, KevinMD, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @preceptorlink, X @LynnMcComas, and her blog, where she addresses the growing NP and PA professions and the urgent need for preceptor sites.

Her unique perspective, shaped by her business, clinical, and educational experiences, positions her as a key voice in tackling preceptor shortages. McComas is committed to driving change through a paradigm shift in NP education, reducing barriers, offering preceptor incentives, and advocating for reforms within the profession.