BSN to nurse attorney?

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I know this forum seems to be more dedicated to legal nursing, and there have been a couple posts about going to law school, but I had a few different questions.

I have my BSN and I am currently looking into becoming an attorney specializing in health law. I am so new to nursing and even to the idea of becoming a JD RN that I am just researching now. What I am wondering is:

1. Does having your BSN as an attorney really make you more maketable than say an attorney with their undergrad in economics, etc. in relation to health law? Is there a need for more nurse attorney's and are they in demand? I have tried to research on my latter question and have had a hard time finding answers.

2. Is there place to go (forums, etc.) that a non-member can read nurse attorney's disscussions? I know there is the American Association of Nurse Attorney's but they do not have a chapter in my state.

3. I am meeting with an advisor at the law school I would possibly considering going to in a couple days; any questions I should ask regarding their health law track besides the standerd ones that I have found on the internet?

Thanks already for any answers you may give me--especially to those out there who may be considering/be in law school specializing in health law.

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i know this forum seems to be more dedicated to legal nursing, and there have been a couple posts about going to law school, but i had a few different questions.

i have my bsn and i am currently looking into becoming an attorney specializing in health law. i am so new to nursing and even to the idea of becoming a jd rn that i am just researching now. what i am wondering is:

1. does having your bsn as an attorney really make you more maketable than say an attorney with their undergrad in economics, etc. in relation to health law? is there a need for more nurse attorney's and are they in demand? i have tried to research on my latter question and have had a hard time finding answers.

2. is there place to go (forums, etc.) that a non-member can read nurse attorney's disscussions? i know there is the american association of nurse attorney's but they do not have a chapter in my state.

3. i am meeting with an advisor at the law school i would possibly considering going to in a couple days; any questions i should ask regarding their health law track besides the standerd ones that i have found on the internet?

thanks already for any answers you may give me--especially to those out there who may be considering/be in law school specializing in health law.

welcome to allnurses.com and the legal nurse forum.

i know of a few bsn/msn nurses who have gone on to secure their jd. as for making you more marketable, yes, it could. the nurse-attorneys with whom i have a reltionship have their careers solidly in med-mal cases. many offer their services striclty to the nurse in litigation. yes, their is a need for nurse-attorneys......especially ones who can represent, adequately, the nurse before the bon. often these nurses lack fair representation when appearing before the bon.

i just google an attorney specializing in certain areas and read court decisions. this has helped me decide to whom i would like to market my business. you could secure a list of attorneys in your state by going to your states' law association and link to the attorneys to view their profile. worked for me in my state.

as for what questions to ask, i would want to see stats about just as you described: nurses who secure jd, demand for said attorney, courses you can take now while waiting to enter law school to better prepare you for health law, links to forums such as you described, etc.

i think you have a wonderful career path here. please, keep me informed along the way. good luck and enjoy the forums here.

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Thanks for the welcome and quick reply :) I will definitely use your suggestions/advice.

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I am actually an attorney hoping to go into nursing. I think you should try to work in a law firm before going to law school. I worked in many law firms and was not honest with myself about why I never wanted to spend more than 4 hours a day at the office. I am now practicing and have realized that I hate behind a desk in a quiet office hardly speaking to other people. Try to get a good idea of what a day is like for an attorney. Then determine if you like that. I have thought I wanted to be an attorney since high school. I was quite wrong.

You should ask the law school advisor what 1) their bar passage rate is and 2) what their employment rate is at graduation or shortly thereafter. The legal profession has MANY new attorneys right now. It will take several years to soak up the extra attorneys from last year and this year who do not have jobs.

If you don't mind me asking - why do you want to leave nursing? I am doing my pre-reqs right now. Just wondering ;). Thanks!

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