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Legal Nurse Consultant

FAQs

Why has Duke Continuing Studies chosen to offer this program?
This program was created in response to the growing number of requests we received from nurses who were looking for other career opportunities. This was a field we had looked into previously and, with the support of our local LNC chapter, decided to pursue. Our goal at Duke Continuing Studies is to provide affordable and high quality education to the community. This program fulfills both of these goals.  

Upon completion of the Duke LNC program will I be certified?
No. You will not be “certified” as a legal nurse consultant upon completion of the Duke program. You will receive a completion “certificate” acknowledging that you have met the educational requirements of the program.

How do I pursue certification? Who offers the exam?
Certification is a process of standardization by a governing board/agency, which requires that certain criteria be met. Certification as a Legal Nurse Consultant is offered through the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) and administered by the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board.  The certification allows those who pass the exam to use the LNCC (Legal Nurse Consultant Certified) designation.  The LNCC is the only certification in legal nurse consulting accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties and recognized by the AALNC and American Nurses Association (ANA).
To qualify for the certification examination one must have at least 2000 hours of billable work as a LNC in the prior (3) years and (5) years of experience as a registered nurse. For more information and to apply for the examination please visit: http://www.aalnc.org/lncc

Do I have to take the Duke program in order to apply for the certification exam offered by AALNC?
No, it is not mandatory for you to complete the Duke program or any other LNC education program in order to qualify for the AALNC exam. However, the material covered in the Duke program will prepare individuals who seek to apply for the exam.

As an RN, can I apply for the Duke program regardless of whether or not I intend to become certified?
Yes, any active RN in the U.S. and its territories may enroll in this program regardless of whether or not they intend to become certified.

Which textbook will be used during the program?
Legal Nurse Consulting Principles and Practices, 2nd edition. The cost of this textbook is included in the price of tuition. Information on book retrieval will be included with other orientation materails 10 days prior to program start date.

Is this program affiliated with the Duke University Medical Center?
No, this program is offered as a joint collaboration between Duke University Continuing Studies (DCS) and the local LNC chapter.  The focus of the program is not to teach nursing skills, but to give experienced nurses the legal knowledge and skills necessary to work in the legal field. 

DCS offers a wide variety of career-enhancing certificate programs geared toward the particular needs of working professionals. Certificate programs such as the LNC program are often co-sponsored with industry experts to provide education focused on applicability to real world issues and solutions.

Can any of the courses in the program be applied to another degree?
No. This program is a non-credit certificate program and is not applicable to a degree unless the institution being applied to is willing to extend credit to the applicant for contact hours.

Will I receive CNE credit hours for this certificate?
Yes. This program has been approved by the North Carolina Nurses Association for 45 CNE contact hours.

Does Duke offer employment assistance to its graduates?
Students are responsible for securing their own employment upon completion of the program. During the program students will take a module, which will cover the business side of the LNC profession, including setting up your practice, creating a business plan, marketing and interviewing, etc.

How does this program differ from a Nurse Paralegal Certificate Program?
As licensed registered nurses, legal nurse consultants bring specialized healthcare education and clinical experience to the medically related issues of the litigation process. This education and experience distinguishes legal nurse consultants from paralegals and legal assistants and provides the foundation for the legal nurse consultant's ability to recognize, interpret and analyze all relevant medically related information in a claim or case. (from the AALNC website)