One nurse suggests that some BON's might only recognize LNCC (not CLNC).
I've just talked with a "Nursing Education Consultant" at California Board of Registered Nursing, who says that currently CA BRN doesn't get involved with any certification issues except for those they license:
Registered Nurse (RN)
Public Health Nurse Certificate (PHN)
Nurse Practitioner Certificate (NP)
Nurse Practitioner Furnishing Certificate (NPF)
Nurse Anesthetist Certificate (NA)
Nurse Midwife Certificate (NMW)
Nurse Midwife Furnishing Certificate (NMF)
Clinical Nurse Specialist Certificate (CNS)
Psychiatric/Mental Health Certificate (P/MH)
The exception is that to claim any certification one must have earned it through whatever process legitimately, or face the possibility of challenge for professional misrepresentation/misconduct.
Does anyone know about other states' recognition or regulation of CLNC/LNCC title use?
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
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.
in mid '06, the ana finally came out and made this statement that rns were indeed practicing within their bon sop as lnc:
this has nothing to do with the american bar association (aba) as the practice of legal nurse consulting falls under rn sop. therefore, lnc is not regulated in any shape, form or fashion, by attorneys. most bon have this defined via npa.
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
correct. as of now, state bon cannot regulate which certification designation is utilized by the individual rn as lnc, but many do regulate which designation is approved and which certification is accepted for ceus. per my state bon:
x-sbn approved certifications
the certifications listed below meet the continuing education criteria for license renewal:
specialty: legal nurse consulting
certifying body: american association legal nurse consultant
In mid '06, the ANA finally came out and made this statement that RNs were indeed practicing within their BON SOP as LNC:
While one appreciates the ANA and their contribution, their statement is empty and in effect meaningless. The ANA does not affect state nurse practice acts with such statements. As long as there is NO requirement by law for an individual to be a currently licensed registered nurse in order to function in the role of a legal nurse consultant, the board has no jurisdiction (aside from preventing using the title "nurse" if not licensed). To apply a BON SOP to an LNC is very difficult. What does that mean? If strictly applied it would require that an RN LNC render opinions and consider materials pertaining to the practice of nursing alone. Evaluation of the medical care beyond nursing would be prohibited.
This has nothing to do with the American Bar Association (ABA) as the practice of legal nurse consulting falls under RN SOP. Therefore, LNC is not regulated in any shape, form or fashion, by attorneys. Most BON have this defined via NPA.
As I said, ther is only indirect regulation. The closest thing to regulation of LNC practice occurs under state laws, through the bar association oversite many times, by strict limits on practicing law without a license. An LNC cannot dispense legal opinions to parties in litigation, and is on dangerous ground without working in conjunction with a licensed attorney. Not from the board of nursing. They have no authority. I am unaware of any BON that addresses the SOP of an LNC in their NPA. They are unable to without impeding on the rules of the legal profession. What SOP portions govern the LNC?
Correct. As of now, state BON cannot regulate which certification designation is utilized by the individual RN as LNC, but many do regulate which designation is approved and which certification is accepted for CEUs.
That was my original question. To be clear, "recognition" as used here only means recognizing a particular training program, in this case that offered by the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, for CEU credit.
And, LNC is not trademarked by any organization. It is a specialty area designation only.
sirI, MSN, APRN, NP
17 Articles; 45,868 Posts
in mid '06, the ana finally came out and made this statement that rns were indeed practicing within their bon sop as lnc:
this has nothing to do with the american bar association (aba) as the practice of legal nurse consulting falls under rn sop. therefore, lnc is not regulated in any shape, form or fashion, by attorneys. most bon have this defined via npa.
correct. as of now, state bon cannot regulate which certification designation is utilized by the individual rn as lnc, but many do regulate which designation is approved and which certification is accepted for ceus. per my state bon:
and, lnc is not trademarked by any organization. it is a specialty area designation only.