LNC is a professional addendum to a career in nursing for those who want to advance their careers or move into a new area beyond clinical practice by coupling broad clinical experience with training in the law and legal procedures. This program consists of 3 core paralegal courses, plus 4 health care law courses and 4 seminars. Students should start with Introduction to Law. Students must register for the complete certificate, $3900.  Payment plans are available.

Admission requirements: Registered Nurse (RN) with 60 college credits, minimum 2000 hours clinical experience or by approval of the director, US license to practice. To apply, you must submit an application, resume, and one letter of recommendation. Download application.

Litigation
This course focuses on causes of action, statutes of limitation, pleadings, provisional remedies, discovery, EBTs, motions to dismiss, summary judgment, settlement conferences, evidence, judicial discretion, judgments, enforcement, and appeals. (15 hours)

Legal Research & Writing
Students will learn the fundamentals of legal research, kinds of law books, casebooks and treatises, official vs. unofficial reporters, hands-on computer and library research, how to shepardize cases, and basics of writing a legal memo. (15 hours)

Torts
Torts are civil wrongs. The class will discuss the various kinds of torts (assault, defamation, negligence, medical malpractice, products liability, infliction of emotional distress, etc.) and the elements which need to be proved, various features of the CPLR which is the basic guidebook of civil actions in New York, tort doctrines such as comparative negligence, res ipsa loquitor, and assumption of the risk. (15 hours)

Health Care Law Courses and Seminars

Introduction to Legal Nurse Consulting Seminar: Past and Present
The role of LNCs from inception to present day practice is reviewed. The seminar includes an overview of the judicial system as it relates to the health care system as well as the anatomy of a medical malpractice lawsuit. The Nurse Practice Act and Code of Professional Responsibility will be reviewed and negotiation skills and business planning will also be included. This course is a prerequisite for the remaining Health Care Law courses and seminars. (6 hours)
Prerequisite: Introduction to Law

Medical Malpractice Law: Legal & Ethical Issues
Legal theory will be examined as well as the study of the burden of proof in a negligence or malpractice claim.  Legal and ethical issues will be analyzed and discussed using case studies and the elements of a claim and common causes of action will be studied.  We will also address pleadings and affirmative defenses to a claim and the use of expert witnesses. (15 hours)

Practical Skills Seminar*: Medical Malpractice Law (3 hours)

Risk Management: Principles and Practice
Health care risk management will be studied, exploring the components of a risk management plan, and including loss control and loss prevention techniques. In addition, the role of the LNC in the identification and management of risks will be discussed. (15 hours)

Practical Skills Seminar*: Risk Management (3 hours)

Administrative Law
Learn about administrative law and its effects on health care decision-making and practice by health care professionals. This course covers the following areas: social security disability, reporting duties, scope of practice, laws such as HIPAA, the Nurse Practice Act, and professional licensure. (15 hours)

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
This course will include an introduction to the ADR mechanisms with a focus on mediation and arbitration. The negotiation process and problem solving methods will be explored. Recent trends in the field, including the recent increases in ADR use in health care situations will be discussed. Interactive role playing will be utilized. (15 hours)

Practical Skills Seminar*: ADR (3 hours)

*LNC Practical Skills Seminars:  After completing each of the core Health Care Courses  students attend a seminar in three areas listed above to apply the principles of law and other methodology to various situations. Examples may include review of a medical record for malpractice, preparation of a witness for deposition testimony, drafting discovery requests, preparing a case for settlement negotiation, ethical dilemmas, and conducting a mock mediation.