A certified registered nurse advisor (CRNA) can provide medical, legal, and clinical expertise to a legal team in a variety of settings. Many LNCs have prior clinical experience in a specific area of medical law, such as obstetrics. Some may choose to specialize in the field of legal consultation for cases involving the care of newborn infants or mothers. Regardless of their background, legal nurse consultants are invaluable to any legal team. If you are a foreign registered nurse who wants to work for hospitals in the U.S., you need to obtain an EB-2 visa for professional nurses (Schedule A professions).
The RN and PA-based LNC certification program offered by Stony Brook University is available online and includes a comprehensive textbook. Students will take 42 hours to complete the course, which counts for 4.2 continuing education credits. This program requires less time than many other programs and is affordable for a full-time working nurse. The program is divided into three modules, each lasting approximately two months. During this time, a nurse will have the opportunity to work on their resume or continue with their current clinical duties.
To qualify to become a legal nurse consultant, applicants must meet certain criteria. These include having an active United States nursing license, five years of experience, and at least 2000 hours of legal nurse consulting. Candidates must also have completed a certification exam administered by the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC), which costs $125 for members and $150 for non-members. For a nurse to be eligible for certification, a Master’s degree in nursing may be beneficial.
