State Boards of Nursing and CLNC vs. LNCC?

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 25, 2007

My state recognizes the RN who practices as legal nurse consultant and who is certified by AALNC. The RN in my state can utilize the letters, LNCC.

Now, all state BON recognize the RN who practices in the specialty role as an LNC whether they are certified or not.

But, there are some state BON (such as mine) who only recoginize the AALNC certification and that certification would be the LNCC. I forsee this being accepted by all BON soon.......IMHO.

lionrn · Sep 25, 2007

My state recognizes the RN who practices as legal nurse consultant and who is certified by AALNC. The RN in my state can utilize the letters, LNCC.
Now, all state BON recognize the RN who practices in the specialty role as an LNC whether they are certified or not.
But, there are some state BON (such as mine) who only recoginize the AALNC certification and that certification would be the LNCC. I forsee this being accepted by all BON soon.......IMHO.

I can see this one could get pretty particular.

For example: can/is it appropriate for an RN licensed in your state who has earned the CLNC suffix to list those initials in identification, or is such initial-listing restricted to valid LNCC's only?

:uhoh21:

If not appropriate, does your state BON take any action against the legitimately earned "inappropriately" listing CLNC?

If not, what difference does it make?

How about CLNC's in other states who work on cases within your state: may they advertise in your state listing the CLNC initials???

:uhoh3:

And by the way, which state is yours?

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 25, 2007

In my state, the RN who is certified, CLNC, may use those letters, but may not receive any continuing education credits by using the CLNC cert. Any RN practicing as legal nurse consultant can use LNC after his/her name according to any BON.

The CLNC, LNCC, or any LNC certified or no and who lives out-of-state does not have to hold a license to practice as RN in another state to market as LNC in said state.

lionrn · Sep 25, 2007

In my state, the RN who is certified, CLNC, may use those letters, but may not receive any continuing education credits by using the CLNC cert.

So does this mean if I'm licensed in your state, I will not earn continuing education credits in your state for taking the CLNC course?

How about for taking the AALNC course?

Are continuing education credits awarded simply for passing the LNCC exam?

And which is your state?

The questions are not academic:

Some states require their own licensures for an RN practicing Disease Management to contact Pt's in that state.

Since I hold 5 state licenses, if one of my states won't accept continuing ed. from one program or the other, or will grant continuing ed. credit for passing the LNCC exam, I could use this info at renewal time(s), and of course it would be great to know from the outset!

I anticipate continuing Disease Management until getting a LNC business to consistently pay the bills, so I'll have to renew at least a couple of those licenses.

I would be... disappointed to find one of my states doesn't accept LNC education for renewal...

Sorry for my :trout: fussiness here (I just love that fish-slap smily!), but sometimes the details can come back and bite ya, as many of us know from first-hand experience.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 25, 2007

So does this mean if I'm licensed in your state, I will not earn continuing education credits in your state for taking the CLNC course?
How about for taking the AALNC course?
Are continuing education credits awarded simply for passing the LNCC exam?
And which is your state?
The questions are not academic:
Some states require their own licensures for an RN practicing Disease Management to contact Pt's in that state.
Since I hold 5 state licenses, if one of my states won't accept continuing ed. from one program or the other, or will grant continuing ed. credit for passing the LNCC exam, I could use this info at renewal time(s), and of course it would be great to know from the outset!
I anticipate continuing Disease Management until getting a LNC business to consistently pay the bills, so I'll have to renew at least a couple of those licenses.
I would be... disappointed to find one of my states doesn't accept LNC education for renewal...
Sorry for my :trout: fussiness here (I just love that fish-slap smily!), but sometimes the details can come back and bite ya, as many of us know from first-hand experience.

To answer your question whether my state takes "action" for utilizing the CLNC. No. They just do not recoginize the 'C' in the title nor do they recognize any CEUs earned using the CLNC.

Correct, if you are licensed in my state and you took the Milazzo program, the CEUs earned as a CLNC and any CLNC CEUs later will not be recognized.

In my state, the CEUs earned as LNCC (with AALNC) are recognized.

Per the AALNC regarding CEUs for the online course:

The complete Introduction to Legal Nurse Consulting Online Course has been approved for a total of 104.5 Nursing Contact Hours by the Illinois Nurses Association.

http://www.aalnc.org//onlinelearning/Packages.cfm

One needs to know what each state requirements are for CEUs; in other words, in every state you hold a license, the BON should clearly state what CEUs are acceptable. Some CEUs may overlap.

For example: I hold multiple certifications and licenses and the CEUs obtained do not apply to each certification/license. When my certification/licensing time comes for each, I have MANY total CEUs for they will not apply across the board for all the certifications and/or licenses.

AlabamaLegalRN · Oct 1, 2007

Okay, I guess I am just wondering why all the fuss about the whole "C" thing. I am a legal nurse consultant and have made approx $75,000 over the last 3 yrs doing this. I am not, nor will ever pay to receive a "certificate" etc. because lawyers frankly don't care (IMHO&E). I have 15 yrs of nursing in OB, thats more than enough, and frankly, may I be frank? The class does not give you more experience, THIS is what you need to be a successful consultant. If you dont have the expertise, and experience in the medical profession, you will sound like an idiot when an MD starts asking you questions, and you WILL be in depositions. The classes teach you "how" to act, but they don't give you the medical background. Most of the attorneys I've worked with (plaintiff or defending) won't consider an RN with less than 12 yrs experience, preferrably a specialty area. When I looked into a "very well known" program, I was disappointed at the lack of nursing years. Just my opinion.

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 1, 2007

Hello, AlabamaLegalRN and welcome to allnurses.com

Good to have you with us and we hope you enjoy the site.

Okay, I guess I am just wondering why all the fuss about the whole "C" thing.

I see no "fuss" about the 'C'.

The OP was simply asking about BON and recognizing certification for the LNC. As you probably know, not the same thing as a certificate.

You are correct in that most attorneys do not care if the RN is certified. And, you are correct in that formal education is not a requirement to practice as an LNC..........yet.

But, those are topics for another thread.:)

Now, back on topic about: State Boards of Nursing and CLNC vs. LNCC?

a21chdchic · Oct 5, 2007

Do all of the states recognize the designation and CEU's for same?

I will be interested to learn which states do and don't.

All states do not recognize the designation CLNC. So, not only would I like to know but the RN's who are considering becoming LNC's might like to use this information in making a decision on which type of designation they prefer to have.

I have checked with the BON for AZ and they also do not recognize the certification CLNC or the CEU's obtained for same.

Personally, it does not make a difference to me, but recognition for the designation by the BON in individual states may be an issue for others.

I'm not trying to cause an issue on the forum, but I am very interested.

Thank you all for any and all input. :rolleyes:

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 5, 2007

True that some BON do not recognize the LNC certification other than the LNCC from the AALNC.

That is for continuting education hours only, not the professional career path.

Right now, with any BON, there is no requirement for LNC education.

Yes, one needs to be aware of what CEUs are acceptable by their individual BON.

Sunshiyn · Dec 20, 2007

My state recognizes the RN who practices as legal nurse consultant and who is certified by AALNC. The RN in my state can utilize the letters, LNCC.
Now, all state BON recognize the RN who practices in the specialty role as an LNC whether they are certified or not.
But, there are some state BON (such as mine) who only recoginize the AALNC certification and that certification would be the LNCC. I forsee this being accepted by all BON soon.......IMHO.

Siri:

Is this because one must have over 2000 hours of experience as a LNC before even taking the exam?

foraneman · Dec 26, 2007

When using the term "recognize", what is it's definition? Currently (and likely not to change) state BONs do not regulate, certify, recommend training for, etc., the legal nurse consultant. Since the function of an LNC is under the control of a licensed attorney, the closest regulation is from the state bar though indirect. Because of this many BON's limit or do not recognize at all an CE's for LNC's which are non-clinical and legal related...which only makes sense.

No BON can then regulate what initials (CLNC, LLNC, LNCC, LNC) a LNC uses after their name. These are TRADEMARKED by the individual private educational programs and the BON has no say.