 Support Center
General Course Questions
Why is this program different from other Legal Nurse Consultant courses?
The UCF Legal Nurse Consultant program was designed and developed by experienced legal nurse consultants. The program focuses on the knowledge and skills in nursing sciences that are utilized in the legal arena, rather than focusing on paralegal skills. The program adheres to the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) position statement pertaining to legal nurse consulting education and also adheres to AALNC’s position statement distinguishing the role of the legal nurse consultant from the role of the paralegal and legal assistant.
AALNC defines legal nurse consulting as a specialty practice of the nursing profession and supports obtaining knowledge of the legal system through various means including interacting with attorneys and attending seminars. However, AALNC believes that legal education is not a prerequisite to the practice of legal nurse consulting, but rather nursing education and clinical experience are the characteristics that make LNCs unique and valuable to the legal profession in select areas of law. On that basis, AALNC states legal nurse consulting education should be developed and presented as specialty nursing curricula by nurse educators in partnership with legal educators. AALNC’s position statements can be found on AALNC’s web site: www.aalnc.org
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What type of certification will I obtain at the completion of the UCF Legal Nurse Consultant program?
At the completion of the course you will receive a Certificate of Completion, indicating you have completed the course. It does not indicate you are "Certified" as a Legal Nurse Consultant. The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) requires that before you sit for the certification exam, you have at least 2000 hours experience working in the capacity of a Legal Nurse Consultant and a RN license. If you pass the 4 hour exam then you become Legal Nurse Consultant Certified. Being certified by AALNC is like any other sub-speciality of nursing: rehab nursing, ER nursing, Critical care nursing....it is reflective of your experience in that area of nursing. The LNC class at UCF teaches the basics of the legal nurse profession and is not a review course for the certification exam. In addition to the Certificate of Completion, 27 CEUs are also offered at the end of the class.
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What is the policy on Course Attendance?
In order to meet the requirements for nursing continuing education through the UCF College of Nursing, participants must attend the live class sessions either online or in the classroom. Participates will be allowed no more than 2 excused absences from the live sessions. While all classes are recorded and the archive is accessible online the next day, we cannot give continuing education credit for attendance via the archives.
In addition, a major portion of the course involves answering post session test questions and preparation of written materials pertaining to a case study during time outside of the classroom. Participants also must submit all written assignments by the final class session in order to receive the certificate of completion and contact hours.
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Beyond having to attend each class session to receive the certificate, are there any other requirements such as papers, exams, etc.?
In addition to attending all the classes, the students are given a case study to work up and will require approximately +/- 10 hours time outside of class. This entails giving them actual medical records to review and analyze with preparation of a medical chronology and summary (the specific how to's are discussed in class). The students also have reading assignments of specific chapters in the textbook that correspond to the subjects to be covered in the next class. The students are required to submit a resume and job description for an LNC position. Students are allowed to miss two classes but in order to receive the certificate of completion make-up assignments have to be completed.
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Who will be teaching the LNC Program?
The course will be taught by local legal nurse consultants who are experienced and credentialed and by local members of the legal and medical profession.
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How do I know that legal nurse consulting is for me?
Successful legal nurse consultants possess several quality traits. As a nurse, he or she has had an extensive clinical experience. He or she is analytical, assertive, organized and efficient. The legal nurse consultant verbally communicates effectively, is skilled in professional writing and knows how to prioritize his or her work schedule.
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Upon completion of UCF’s LNC Program, what do I receive?
At the completion of the 10 weeks, the student will receive a certificate of completion and documentation noting receipt of 27 nursing contact hours [provider numbers to be provided by UCF's School of Nursing.] Attendance in all classes and completion of all assignments are required in order to receive the certificate of completion.
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What is the difference between a certificate obtained from attending a LNC course and being certified?
The requirements for taking the certification exam have changed. An individual who receives a certificate after attending a LNC course reflects that individual successfully completed that specific course. Certification in a nursing specialty denotes that one has met specific practice criteria and passed an examination reflecting his or her knowledge in the field. The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) recognizes the LNCC as the credential for legal nurse consultants. The American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCCB), which is part of AALNC, developed the criteria and exam for this certification. In order to take the certification exam, the nurse must have a current RN license, have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of five years experience as a registered nurse, and show evidence of 2,000 hours of legal nurse consultant experience within the past three years at the time of application.
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Will the LNC program prepare me for the AALNC certification exam?
The course is designed specifically for registered nurses who are planning to enter the field or wish to enhance their skills and knowledge in this field. The course is not a preparatory course for the LNCC certification exam, but will enhance the practitioner’s knowledge in legal nurse consulting when he or she meets the eligibility criteria for application for the exam.
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What do LNC’s earn?
The salaries and compensation of LNC’s vary depending on the practice setting, practice area and level of legal nurse consultant experience. AALNC has published a compensation survey for legal nurse consultants. For information contact: AALNC
4700 W. Lake Avenue, Glenview, IL 600025.
Toll free: 877/402-2562, Fax: 847/375-4777
Web site: http://www.aalnc.org, or Email: info@aalnc.org
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Will this LNC program guarantee job placement?
No. The program will provide the student with the basic knowledge and skills in legal nurse consulting that are considered desirable by most firms and agencies employing or contracting with legal nurse consultants in this area. By attending the course, it provides an opportunity for the student to meet legal nurse consultants and attorneys who are practicing locally.
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Is another LNC program scheduled in the near future?
This course is continually offered throughout the year. For the dates of upcoming classes, please contact conted@mail.ucf.edu
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Technical Questions
What is my login ID?
Your email address will be assigned as your login ID.
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What is my password?
Before the class you should have received an email with your access information. If you cannot find the email and need your password, please contact dce_it@mail.ucf.edu
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What is needed to run live online sessions?
Computer Requirements
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