Required textbooks for this course:
Legal Nurse Consulting: Principles and Practices, 4th edition, edited by Julie Dickinson and Anne Meyer (2020). New York: CRC Press.

Highly recommended legal resources:
Gilbert Pocket Size Law Dictionary, 3rd Edition, West Academic.

This program prepares nurses for a career as legal nurse consultants. Building on your medical education and clinical experience, this course provides the essential skills needed to:

• Advise law firms, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and governmental agencies on medical-related issues.
• Appear in court as expert witnesses.

The curriculum complies with the educational guidelines specified by the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants. Successful graduates will receive a Certificate of Course Completion from the university through which they are registered.

Attendance: Students must attend at least 80% of the course.
Assignments: Pass every assignment with a 70% or better.
Course Evaluation: Complete the course evaluation at the conclusion of the course.

This is an accelerated course, requiring an average of about 10 hours per week for reading and completing assignments. Extensions will not be granted. This course is equivalent to 42 clock hours of study. A minimum passing score of 70% is required on all tests and assignments.

• Define the role of a legal nurse consultant and explain the history and evolution of the profession.
• Describe two major systems of law, the three types of law, and the four sources of law.
• Review the law of Intentional and Unintentional Torts.
• Identify liability concerns of healthcare providers.
• Analyze the role of the LNC before the trial begins.
• Review methods of obtaining medical records and other evidence governed by the Rules of Evidence.
• Identify and review the legal documents used to obtain evidence.
• Explain informed consent, treatment decisions, and review the liability concerns of healthcare providers.
• Discuss criminal law and complex litigation scenarios.
• Discuss the history of the Specialty of Legal Nurse Consulting.
• Discuss the skills needed for entry into special practice.
• Professionalism and Ethics: Discuss the standards of practice and performance expected of an LNC.
• Identify the five responsibilities of an LNC in the litigation process.
• Examine the role of the LNC in evaluating Toxic Tort and Criminal Cases.
• The damages stage of litigation: Identify the four types of damages available and discuss the factors that determine their application to the case.
• Recall the evaluation steps taken by the LNC in a professional negligence case.
• Identify and discuss the three different forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Discuss the LNC’s role in law firms.
• Discuss the issues presented to LNCs in the insurance industry.
• Discuss the issues presented to LNCs in private practice areas.
• Discuss the issues presented to LNCs in Government Service.
• Discuss the issues presented to LNCs in Risk Management.
• Medical record analysis: Discuss the protocol LNCs should follow when receiving medical records.
• Legal Writing: Review writing techniques that will captivate your target audience.
• Discuss the literature research process and methods of research.
• Discuss the advantages and challenges of working as an independent LNC.

Your grade will be based on the completion of six tests and six Bulletin Board Submissions. Here's the breakdown:
Exams: Six exams, each worth 100 points, comprising 80% of your grade.
Bulletin Board Assignments: Six assignments, each worth 10 points, comprising 20% of your grade.
Students must receive a 70% or better on every assignment to receive a certificate.

Eligibility for LNCC Exam: Participants without an RN background might not be eligible to take the LNCC exam after graduation. For more information about the LNCC exam, please contact the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants at 877-402-2562.

On the final day of the program, participants take the State of Texas “TSBDE” Dental Assisting Exam.

Additionally, this program prepares participants for the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Dental Assisting Clinical Certification (DACC) Exam.  For more information about this exam, please visit the NWCA website.

Certification exam information is for reference purposes only and exam fees are not included in the program cost.

Guidelines
• The loan amount must be at least $500.00.
• The loan amount in the application cannot exceed the enrollment fee noted on our website.
• Books will NOT be included in the loan amount.
• Service charges may apply.
• When applying for the Continuing Education Private Loan, please use the UTRGV Continuing Education School Code: 003599.

Lender Information
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley does not endorse or recommend any specific lenders for private loans. You are free to select any lender offering private loans. We recommend you compare loans from several vendors to find the best interest rates/terms and repayment options.
• When exploring loan options, please ensure the lender offers loans for non-credit continuing education programs.
• Our department has identified that Sallie Mae offers private loans that may be used for continuing education programs. This is shared for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement.

Private Loans
• The only loan provider PEWD accepts is Sallie Mae.
• When applying for the Continuing Education Private Loan to cover the registration fee for a non-credit continuing education program, please use the UTRGV Continuing Education School Code: 003599.
• The loan amount must be at least $500.00.
• The loan amount in the application cannot exceed the enrollment fee noted on our website.
• Books will NOT be included in the loan amount.
• Service charges may apply.

Workforce Solutions
Training & Education Scholarships

Hidalgo County Access to Success Program
Access to Success – HCCSA
 

Through this course you will learn how to:

• Increase knowledge of legal terminology, medical malpractice, and the evolving legal system.
• Demonstrate the professional skills necessary to enhance your medical-legal consulting role.
• Identify new arenas for expanding your interests and skills for professional mobility and growth.
• Consider working as a full-time, part-time, or freelance legal nurse consultant.

Legal Nurse Consultants utilize their nursing expertise to assist attorneys in litigation related to:

You may also work with law firms, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and government agencies.