[louisianarn]

What is the difference in operating as an LNC versus and CLNC?

[sirI]

Hello and welcome to allnurses.com

Great to have you with us. Hope you enjoy the site.

LNC=legal nurse consultant

The RN who practices legal nurse consulting is recognized as an LNC. This is a "generic" term.

CLNC=certified legal nurse consultant

The RN practicing as a legal nurse consultant (LNC) who has completed a course via the Vickie Milazzo Institute and successfully passed the certification examination, may then utilize the above credentials, CLNC.

[alkaleidi]

Originally Posted by sirI

LNC=legal nurse consultant

The RN who practices legal nurse consulting is recognized as an LNC. This is a "generic" term.

CLNC=certified legal nurse consultant

The RN practicing as a legal nurse consultant (LNC) who has completed a course via the Vickie Milazzo Institute and successfully passed the certification examination, may then utilize the above credentials, CLNC.

Maybe a silly question, but I know a couple of nurses who have not had any formal education or taken any specialized courses in legal nurse consulting, yet use the title Legal Nurse Consultant (and work as one as well, steadily). In essence, any nurse who was wanting to work as an LNC could apply that title to themselves without a specific set of credentials aside from a nursing license, correct? I am assuming this is why I have noticed most job postings for LNC's are very specific (quite lengthy, actually) in what the firm/attorney/etc wants in the person applying for the position?

[sirI]

Maybe a silly question, but I know a couple of nurses who have not had any formal education or taken any specialized courses in legal nurse consulting, yet use the title Legal Nurse Consultant (and work as one as well, steadily).

Correct. RNs who work in this career can be addressed and use the title Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) and are not required to have formal education or certification to practice as such. As I've stated in past threads, I always advise the RN to seek and receive formal education.

In essence, any nurse who was wanting to work as an LNC could apply that title to themselves without a specific set of credentials aside from a nursing license, correct?

Correct; full unencumbered and valid/current license to practice as a Registered Nurse and currently practicing as Legal Nurse Consultant with or without formal education.

[RN1989]

As you do your research, there are other entities that grant a certification to LNCs and simply have changed the arrangement of the letters to indicate their specific certification.

Example: a nurse can be certified in Med/Surg nursing by the ANCC and have RNC after her name but someone certified from the AMSN will have CMSRN after their name.

If you are an LNC and indicate that your are "certified" in any way, you had better have a certificate stating that fact. Otherwise, the use of LNC is fine.