Breaking into Legal Nurse Consulting

Specialties Legal

Published

  • Specializes in OB, M/S, ICU, Neurosciences.

I would really appreciate any feedback from those of you with experience as LNCs.

I have been a RN for 20 years and have practiced in a variety of clinical areas. I am looking for a new challenge that will provide me with opportunities to utilize my fairly extensive body of knowledge, and that will allow me to be more independent. I have always loved the idea of being my own boss, or at least being in a position where I can work on projects of interest to me. I am also greatly intrigued by the legal aspects of healthcare.

I have looked at a number of different programs, including Kaplan, Vickie Milazzo (seems VERY expensive, but is it a solid program?), and several different collges that offer the coursework leading to certification. How does one determine which programs are the best at preparing someone for the role of LNC? Are you able to find work now that you are certified, and how difficult was it? I would love to hear from any of you who have gone down this road.

Thanks a million for your help :D

Suzanne

Austin

7 Posts

Suzanne:

Have you checked the AALNC website for information? I'm in a boat similar to yours; looking at breaking into the field. Also, there is a legal nurse consulting group on yahoo; you might find it interesting to peruse those posts and archives, etc.

Best of luck,

austin

OB4ME

72 Posts

I too am just getting started in this field, for the same reasons you are. :-)

Personally, I chose to go with Vickie Milazzo to learn basics about the field. I'm going to start her home study soon, and will be attending her seminar in August. I've met alot of people who are happy with her program, as well as many people who were happy with other programs. I've been studying the 2nd edition of "Legal Nurse Consulting Principles and Practice" by Patricia Iyers for a few weeks. It is available on the AALNC website, as it's the only LNC textbook that they endorse. I strongly recommend that you start with this text, as it will make an important addition to your library. (I believe it's also the basis for the Kaplan and other university sponsored courses?)

Keep in mind that Vickie's certification only means that you mastered HER course. It really means nothing elsewhere. Your future clients won't care what program you took...they just want to know what you can offer them (your nursing experience), which you have whether you take Kaplan's course, Vickie's course, or just study the above mentioned LNC textbook on your own and start working as an LNC. The only way to become truly certified as an LNC is to work over 2,000 hours as an LNC, and then sit for the exam specifically offered through AALNC.

Nighthawk

5 Posts

I have been an RN for 23 years. I recently took a job with the special investigations unit for the company I have been employed with all these years.

I met a friend that has been doing LNC for about four years. She has been able to find three lawyers that she works for on a part time basis and is making very good money.

she went to the Vicki Milazo seminar to get certified. After checking into a number of programs and looking over the materials from Vicki's course I have decided to enroll for the course in October. I realize it is expensive but I chalk it up to the cost of doing business. Besides I remember how much it cost me to get my RN. This is a drop in the bucket and has the potential to pay a lot better.

Good luck with your search.

Erin RN

396 Posts

I actually took Vicki's home study class and sat for the certification 3 yrs ago. The certification is good for 2 years then you have to take the test again and pay 250.00 again. Yes, there was a lot of information in Vicki's class however..I have never had an attorney ask if I was certified..they ONLY want to know about your nursing experience.. When you start reviewing cases you are reviewing medical information..the lawyer does the legal part. I usually work a couple of cases a month. It is fairly hard (in my opinion) to get enough work in legal nursing to quit the day job,,,I am currently taking the certification course or life care planning..now that is a field that you absolutely need the certification in...

Nighthawk

5 Posts

Thanks Erin I appreciate the return. what is this life planning certification yoiu are talking about?

I am going to Vegas this month to get my legan nurse critification and plan on using this as a second job and possibly work the consulting into an income I can maintain when I retire.

pamelake

5 Posts

I was signed up for the Vickie Milazzo 6 day workshop in October. After watching the home study videos and having some concern about the cost, I canceled. My thinking is that the certification through Vickie has her registered trade mark and I would not use it anyway. I have been recommended to read the text book offered through AALNC and plan to do so. I may attend one of Vickies siminars in the future, but plan to obtain some practical experience in the mean time. Then I can obtain certification through AALNC. It has been hard to figure out the best path and any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Erin RN

396 Posts

Hi

I am currently enrolled in the Kaplan college Life care Planning certificate program. It is a new program as of this summer. To this point the only way to be eligible to sit for the CHCC exam was to go through intellicus which requires that you do some from home but travel for several modules. The Kaplan course is purely distance and has been developed by Paul Deutsch who is one of the founder of Life Care planning. I think that there may be a couple of other programs but it is the same type of thing as the LNC courses in that the others have their "own" certification. I went through Ms. Milazzos class and sat for her certification but no one seemed to care and it is not recognized by the AALNC so I learned my lesson on that one. The CHCC designation is from what I can tell the recognized certification. I was asked to do a life care plan recently but truly to do so, I think one needs to be prepared..it is not just using your nursing knowledge..it is a methodical process and very important to know what you are doing...not to mention I do not want to be ripped apart by the opposing atty soooo I am jumping through the hoops. So far I can't decide if I like the program or not but I am just now getting into the real meat about specific injuries like TBI and Spinal injuries so I think it is going to get interesting..

Erin

Edited for advertising.

I would really appreciate any feedback from those of you with experience as LNCs.

I have been a RN for 20 years and have practiced in a variety of clinical areas. I am looking for a new challenge that will provide me with opportunities to utilize my fairly extensive body of knowledge, and that will allow me to be more independent. I have always loved the idea of being my own boss, or at least being in a position where I can work on projects of interest to me. I am also greatly intrigued by the legal aspects of healthcare.

I have looked at a number of different programs, including Kaplan, Vickie Milazzo (seems VERY expensive, but is it a solid program?), and several different collges that offer the coursework leading to certification. How does one determine which programs are the best at preparing someone for the role of LNC? Are you able to find work now that you are certified, and how difficult was it? I would love to hear from any of you who have gone down this road.

Thanks a million for your help :D

Suzanne

Edited for advertising.

I have been an RN for 23 years. I recently took a job with the special investigations unit for the company I have been employed with all these years.

I met a friend that has been doing LNC for about four years. She has been able to find three lawyers that she works for on a part time basis and is making very good money.

she went to the Vicki Milazo seminar to get certified. After checking into a number of programs and looking over the materials from Vicki's course I have decided to enroll for the course in October. I realize it is expensive but I chalk it up to the cost of doing business. Besides I remember how much it cost me to get my RN. This is a drop in the bucket and has the potential to pay a lot better.

Good luck with your search.

Edited for advertising.

Thanks Erin I appreciate the return. what is this life planning certification yoiu are talking about?

I am going to Vegas this month to get my legan nurse critification and plan on using this as a second job and possibly work the consulting into an income I can maintain when I retire.

Edited for advertising.

I was signed up for the Vickie Milazzo 6 day workshop in October. After watching the home study videos and having some concern about the cost, I canceled. My thinking is that the certification through Vickie has her registered trade mark and I would not use it anyway. I have been recommended to read the text book offered through AALNC and plan to do so. I may attend one of Vickies siminars in the future, but plan to obtain some practical experience in the mean time. Then I can obtain certification through AALNC. It has been hard to figure out the best path and any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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