New role of LNC?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

How responsponsible are LNC's in education nurses in legal aspects of their nursing liscense. I read nurses blogs and facebook pages, and the nurses obviously have no idea of what it means to be sued, what it means to be called before the board of nursing, or the fact that administrative hearing are not like Matlock, Law and Order, or Perry Mason.

What is our role in educating nurses, or do we have a role?

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I've thought along the lines like you. I find the field extremely interesting but I have no desire to work with lawyers preparing cases or to appear as an 'expert witness'.

What I would find exciting would be to develop myself as an educational consultant. I'd seek consulting or providing CEU-type programs for individuals, or more preferably groups. Or I could see working in risk management (altho I know there are some other QAQI credentials out there).

As an experienced RN, I find myself frequently discussing things with other nurses. And as a supervisor, I've had to review subordinate staff's documentation or supervise their clinical skills. I try to provide information how to best protect themselves in situations while avoiding casting blame on other staff. I freq play 'devil's advocate' when I can provide different sides of an issue. Too often folk have 'blinders' on and only see their own POV.

There's a bigger picture out there that needs to be seen. And I like to be prepared as the LNC to be able to present the info. That to me is the education end of it like you speak.

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One of the cool things I really enjoy about going to AALNC events is seeing the many, many ways LNCs use their nursing and legal education. It's not all in-house med mal or expert witness work. I think you could carve yourself out a very nice little niche educating nurses (and others!) about nursing malpractice, documentation, credentialing, licensure, insurance, and the like. I've seen it done. Have you been to the AALNC website and checked out the Journal and the webinars? Loads of good ideas there.

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