I've narrowed my options and 3 questions

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I want to be an NLC!!! I always said if I wasn't a nurse I would have been a private investigator. I have been a nurse for 12 years and I currently work in a unique position. I was going to bore you with the detials of my current job and my past experience, but I deleted those detials. Let's just say I believe my current job an past experience will be very helpful to me if I become a LNC.

I never knew LNC existed until I received the VMI DVD in the mail several months ago. I watched the DVD and repeatedly said to myself. That's me. I've always wanted to do that. I can do that! I have been excited about persuing this as a career. I've been researching online programs for 1-2 months. I have gained a lot of knowledge from this forum. Like many others, I have narrowed my options down to the VMI and the AALNC. From the research I have done, I do not believe there are not any LNCs in my area. I did locate a State chapter of LNC online that I hope would be helpful to me.

Now to my questions:

1. One of my concerns is having access to a mentor. For those of you who did not obtain utilize the VMI do you have any mentors? Have you consulted with other LNCs for their expertise in guiding you with a case?

2. Is there anyone who is a partner with a spouse? My spouse has been an Rn for almost 20 years and has a wide range of nursing experience (critical care, general med and Surgery). He wold be a great resource to me.

3. I can call and ask either program, but curious if anyone has the answer to this: How is it that you can earn the title Certified with the VMI program, but the AALNC you need to have 2000 hours of practice before you can be Certified?

Thanks for taking the time to read this:

Lisa

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
i want to be an nlc!!! i always said if i wasn't a nurse i would have been a private investigator. i have been a nurse for 12 years and i currently work in a unique position. i was going to bore you with the detials of my current job and my past experience, but i deleted those detials. let's just say i believe my current job an past experience will be very helpful to me if i become a lnc.

i never knew lnc existed until i received the vmi dvd in the mail several months ago. i watched the dvd and repeatedly said to myself. that's me. i've always wanted to do that. i can do that! i have been excited about persuing this as a career. i've been researching online programs for 1-2 months. i have gained a lot of knowledge from this forum. like many others, i have narrowed my options down to the vmi and the aalnc. from the research i have done, i do not believe there are not any lncs in my area. i did locate a state chapter of lnc online that i hope would be helpful to me.

now to my questions:

1. one of my concerns is having access to a mentor. for those of you who did not obtain utilize the vmi do you have any mentors? have you consulted with other lncs for their expertise in guiding you with a case?

2. is there anyone who is a partner with a spouse? my spouse has been an rn for almost 20 years and has a wide range of nursing experience (critical care, general med and surgery). he wold be a great resource to me.

3. i can call and ask either program, but curious if anyone has the answer to this: how is it that you can earn the title certified with the vmi program, but the aalnc you need to have 2000 hours of practice before you can be certified?

thanks for taking the time to read this:

lisa

hello, lac1027, and welcome to allnurses.com and the legal nursing forum

good to read of your interest in the lnc career.:balloons:

to answer your questions:

1 - one of my concerns is having access to a mentor. for those of you who did not obtain utilize the vmi do you have any mentors? have you consulted with other lncs for their expertise in guiding you with a case?

many do not utilize mentors at the vmi. this is a valuable service that is offered by the institute and i suggest the lnc to utilize it. i serve to mentor lncs and have several with whom i am in close contact almost on a daily basis. i started out with my own mentor as well.

yes, the lnc should have a broad data base of other lncs with whom to consult.

2 - is there anyone who is a partner with a spouse? my spouse has been an rn for almost 20 years and has a wide range of nursing experience (critical care, general med and surgery). he wold be a great resource to me.

i'm sure there are some who have as their partner, their spouse. i think this can be a valuable addition to your own business.

3 - i can call and ask either program, but curious if anyone has the answer to this: how is it that you can earn the title certified with the vmi program, but the aalnc you need to have 2000 hours of practice before you can be certified?

each entity has own set of requirements. as for certification with aalnc, anyone can seek this once fulfilling the requirements. certification does not imply ability, just that you have earned a credential that demonstrates added knowledge.

education with either entity is similar. core curriculum is essentially identical. both programs allow at home study. vmi goes one step further and adds the 6 day program (you receive all core curriculum prior to the program to which you can refer and study).

if you have other questions/concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via private message and/or post here.

good luck with your decision(s).

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

hello, lac1027. welcome!!!

i want to echo what siri has said. having a mentor is invaluable. i am currently taking the aalnc online training and have been very pleased with it. i am very fortunate that i am in constant contact with a mentor who is a very knowledgeable and successful legal nurse consultant. there are lnc's on this site as well who can provide a wealth of information as you are considering this career.

regarding your question about certification with aalnc, i would refer you to their website discussion about certification. http://www.aalnc.org/lncc/about/certificate.cfm

according to this explanation

"the lncc program is practice-based. it is not intended to teach individuals how to become legal nurse consultants. rather, it is designed to measure an individual's "knowledge-in-use" - the application of knowledge and skills by those with real-life experience in this role."

you have narrowed your options to 2 very good programs. please don't hesitate to contact me either via pm or by posting here if you have specific questions about the aalnc program or other questions as well.

good luck!!

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Thank you for the welcome and for the very thorough replies. My decision is almost made. I just need to do it.

Lisa

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

you are most welcome, lisa. good luck with whatever you decide. we will be here to answer further questions.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Good luck, Lisa.

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