Published Feb 25, 2008
cprud
11 Posts
I am considering taking the one day course offered by NCLNC-it seems very convenient and the price is good. Does anyone know if this is worth it? Is it recognized as a legal certification? Just want to know before I write that check!
sirI, MSN, APRN, NP
17 Articles; 45,819 Posts
Hello cprud
I am not familiar with this educative entity.
Maybe others who have utilized this program will come around and post.
Good luck.
RN1989
1,348 Posts
I looked at the site. The PLNC certification is rendered by her company, just as the CLNC is rendered by VM. There are several other companies that have their own certification as well. The certification that the companies offer means that you have completed their prescribed course of study and have passed the basic test of knowledge - similar to your AHA CPR and ACLS provider cards. It does not guarantee that you can practice, it simply means that you have been tested on material that you should have learned and passed the exam. The certification that comes from AALNC which requires documented hours of experience in legal nurse consulting is more on-par with certifications that come from ANCC. Of course as we all know in nursing, that alphabet soup can definitely help you when you are looking for jobs etc and need to show evidence of learning, so having some kind of certification is often better than just an RN behind your name in those instances.
If you think that you can learn all you need to know from a one day course, try it. Personally, this is a lot of info to learn in one day. I opted for home study through another system and they delivered a box weighing 51 pounds to my home. I still have not completed the advanced work that was included in it. There is a lot of stuff to digest, particularly if you are anal like me and want to learn as everything.
The biggest obstacle to having a successful LNC business is marketing. Competition is fierce and you have to learn how to run a business and sell yourself. Since the majority of attorneys are men and the majority of nurses are women, this can make it more difficult for the nice nurse to be able to hold firm and not cave when the important attorney challenges them regarding knowledge, products, contracts, and fees. LNC is not for those looking for an easy way out of bedside care. There is a ton to learn and it is a whole different ballgame. You need to figure out your strengths and weaknesses and decide which program best suits your needs. Each one has something different to offer and most of us chose one program or another because they catered to our specific needs.
Well said, RN1989
KLKRN, RN
196 Posts
I agree.
My agency's contract recruiter (I work registry) called me today and offered me a contract. I declined, and told him I was planning on doing the AALNC course. He said, "good luck." He had looked into both nursing and law; his mother is a nurse (I used to work with her) and he would certainly agree that it is definitely not for someone looking for "the easy way out of bedside nursing."
I worry, myself, at this point, about being "too nice" and being manipulated by a strong-willed attorney telling me my fee is outrageous.