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Nursing Degrees & Schools / DNP vs. DNAP

Exploring your nursing career options can sometimes be confusing. Case in point: comparing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to a Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). What’s the difference and which is better suited to your goals?

A DNP is a terminal nursing degree, making it one of the highest nursing degrees you can earn. Nurses with DNPs are highly sought after because of their extensive leadership and medical knowledge. 

DNPs, while not doctors, have the same capabilities and standards as physicians. Their expertise can help fill the gap across all healthcare settings for highly-trained medical professionals. 

A DNAP also is an advanced doctorate degree specializing in nurse anesthesia. Nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia treatments that keep patients from feeling pain before, during, and after surgery and other medical procedures. 

However, unlike the DNP, some healthcare institutions don’t consider it a terminal degree since it focuses on anesthesia.

In this article, we break down the similarities and differences between DNP and DNAP nursing degrees. You’ll discover:

• What is a DNP?
• What is a DNAP?
• How do DNPs and DNAPs compare?

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What is a DNP?

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal degree in nursing designed to prepare nurses for leadership positions. It’s one of the highest degrees you can earn in nursing.  

If you’re interested in focusing on clinical practice, then a DNP is a good fit for an advanced nursing degree.  In this role, you can expect to influence healthcare outcomes through direct patient care, health policy, and organizational leadership.

While not doctors, DNPs have extensive medical knowledge. Nearly 84 million Americans live in areas where primary-care physicians are in short supply. DNPs can help fill the gap. 

Not only can you work in clinical leadership roles with a DNP, but you also can become a nurse educator with your degree. 

Salary and career outlook

Nursing professionals with DNPs are in high demand because of their expertise. A current nursing faculty shortage has contributed to the overall nursing shortage.

DNPs earn an average base salary of $108,000. Demand for nurses with this terminal degree is expected to increase by 40% from 2021 to 2031.

Scope of practice

Nursing professionals who become DNPs are qualified to work in a variety of healthcare settings. Some of the most common roles that fall under the scope of practice include:

• Directors of clinical programs
• Executive positions with healthcare organizations
• Faculty positions with nursing schools

Education

Becoming a DNP requires a high level of commitment to your studies. It takes one to two years of full-time coursework to earn your DNP. If you choose to work while you pursue a DNP, it can take even longer.

Before you can even apply to a DNP program, you must meet certain requirements. They include:

• A minimum of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree
• A minimum of 240 eligible practice hours during MSN or post-MSN completion
• A registered nurse (RN) or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensure in good standing

Some DNP programs have additional requirements like letters of recommendation and goal statements. You can check with the program of your choice to ensure you meet all criteria before applying.

Licenses

DNPs must hold an active and unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license. Some DNPs have advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licenses, but it is not a requirement for becoming a DNP.

Certifications

DNPs who plan to focus on advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) and provide direct patient care must sit for the APRN certification exam.

What is a DNAP?

A Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) is the highest-level professional practice degree nurse anesthetists can earn.  Nurses who wish to work as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) must obtain a DNAP to practice.

DNAP jobs typically focus on research findings for evidence-based clinical practice, education, and administration. Nursing professionals with DNAPs can:

• Develop effective strategies for managing ethical dilemmas related to anesthesia.
• Enhance quality care. 
• Improve nurse anesthesia best practices.
• Promote patient safety.

The type of education and certification DNAPs obtain is slightly different from that of a DNP.

Once completed, a DNAP degree can be used in a variety of healthcare settings, including:

• Colleges and universities
• Critical access hospitals
• Hospital administration
• Mobile surgery centers
• Research facilities

Salary and career outlook

Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice nurses can expect to earn an average annual salary of $91,509. This number can rise by quite a bit depending on experience and location. Like DNPs, DNAPs are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a a growth of 40% from 2021 to 2031. In the U.S. alone, there is a need to fill an average 30,200 nurse anesthetist positions annually.

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Scope of practice

CRNAs plan and deliver anesthesia, pain management, and related care to patients as part of their scope of practice. They can collaborate with other practitioners on a healthcare team to improve patient outcomes.

Some of the skills covered under the scope of practice include:

• Advanced airway management and intubation
• Administration of sedatives for mechanically-ventilated patients
• Paralytic drip management
• Vasopressor selection and management
• Ventilator management and troubleshooting

Education

After completing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, you must continue with your education to complete a DNAP program through an accredited college or university. Most doctoral nursing degrees take between 12 and 36 months to complete depending on whether you attend part-time or full-time.

DNAP programs include 30 to 40 credits and 1,000 clinical hours. Coursework includes in-depth study of topics like anesthesia biology and pharmacology.

Licenses

If you wish to earn your Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license, you must complete a Master of Science in Nursing degree.

Certifications

Specialty certifications for DNAPs can be obtained through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). To earn certification, you must pass an exam with 100 to 170 comprehensive questions. Renewal is required every four years.

How do DNPs and DNAPs compare?

To decide how DNPs and DNAPs compare, you must look closely at the responsibilities for each nursing role.

Next steps

Now that you know the similarities and differences between DNPs and DNAPs, you can make a more informed choice that matches your nursing career goals. If you still have questions, you can get advice from nurses currently working as DNPs and DNAPs.  

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Career Resources / CNS vs. NP

Nurses with advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensure have options for advancing their careers. Among the available options, you can choose to work as a clinical nurse specialist or a nurse practitioner.

Clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners both have extensive knowledge in healthcare and nursing best practices. Many similarities exist between their nursing roles. However, there are some subtle differences that might influence which path you choose.

In this article we’ll discuss:

• What is a clinical nurse specialist?
• What is a nurse practitioner?
• How do clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners compare?
• What are the differences between clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners?
• What are the career outlooks for clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners?

What is a clinical nurse specialist?

A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is an APRN who has earned a graduate-level nursing degree. CNSs assess, diagnose, and treat patients with a variety of conditions across all age groups.

Clinical nurse specialists can specialize in any of the following:

• Critical care
• Geriatrics
• Pain management
• Pediatrics
• Rehabilitation services
• Women’s health

In this nursing role, you can support a team of nurses or recommend practice changes to improve patient outcomes. Clinical nurse specialists can work in clinics, hospitals, and private practices.

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What is a nurse practitioner?

A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who undergoes rigorous educational and clinical training. NPs combine their clinical expertise with disease prevention and health management components for an exciting and well-rounded nursing career.

As a nurse practitioner, you must emphasize the health and well-being of the whole person. You’ll focus on disease prevention and health education, guiding your patients toward lifestyle choices that maintain their health.

Some of your daily tasks as an NP may include:

• Counseling patients on treatment plans
• Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic health conditions
•  Educating patients and caregivers on disease prevention
• Managing treatment plans
• Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic tests
• Prescribing medications and other treatment

How do clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners compare?

If you’re trying to decide between becoming a clinical nurse specialist or a nurse practitioner, you should explore the similarities and differences between the two nursing roles.

To become a CNS or NP requires either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). You also must become certified in a specialty of your choosing once you have completed your formal education and have your APRN license to practice.

Both nursing roles can earn you a six-figure salary and be professionally fulfilling. Check out the differences in the roles and responsibilities, salary, and education to determine which option best suits your nursing career goals.

What are the differences between clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners?

When exploring a career as a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner, it can seem like the two nursing roles are the same. However, there are slight differences in the roles and responsibilities, salary, and education requirements for each.

Roles and responsibilities

When it comes to the roles and responsibilities for CNSs and NPs, a clinical nurse specialist focuses on patient outcome improvements that rely on evidence-based research. Nurse practitioners promote disease prevention while diagnosing and treating patients with acute or chronic conditions.

Some of the most common job duties for a CNS include:

• Administering health care to patients
• Developing policies and procedures to improve patient outcomes
• Educating and training staff in a clinic, hospital, or private practice
• Providing expert consultations

NPs spend more time engaged in the following tasks:

• Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic health conditions
• Educating patients and caregivers about health conditions
• Prescribing medications for disease control or management
• Providing referrals to specialists
• Promoting disease prevention

Salary

Clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners make roughly the same average annual salaries in the U.S. As with other nursing roles, salaries vary by location. Nurses with more years of experience in the field can make more than those fresh out of nursing school.

According to the most recent wage statistics available, CNSs average over $100,000 annually across the U.S. In comparison, NPs earned just slightly higher annual salaries at $118,040.

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Education

To become a CNS or NP, you first must earn either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

When starting from scratch, it can take 5 to 7 years to complete an MSN degree program if attending full-time. Most nursing professionals become a licensed RN and work in the field while attending an MSN program. 

A Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal degree in nursing. It is one of the two highest degrees you can obtain. DNP programs include one to two years of full-time coursework following your entry-level nursing program completion.

There are bridge programs to help you cut down on time spent in school:

• RN to MSN
• RN to DNP
• MSN to DNP

Licenses

Both CNSs and NPs hold advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licenses. To become a licensed APRN, you must complete an MSN or DNP nursing degree program and pass the NCLEX exam.

Whether you work as a CNS or an NP, your APRN license must be renewed every five years.  

Certifications

Completing your nursing degree program and becoming a licensed APRN aren’t the only requirements to working as a CNS or NP. Both types of nursing professional must pursue certifications before they can begin working in their respective roles.

CNS certification is offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACCN). You can take national certification exams for CNS core and nine specialty areas, including:

• Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC)
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGPCNP-BC)
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification (PMHNP-BC)

Credentials must be renewed every five years.

NP certification is offered through the ANCC or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). NPs can earn specialty certifications in some of the following:

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Credentials must be renewed every two years.

What are the career outlooks for clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners?

Demand remains high for all nurses with advanced degrees. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), projected growth for CNSs and NPs is at 40% from 2021 to 2031. Data indicates about 30,200 openings for nursing professionals that fall into this category.

Next steps

Choosing a nursing career path should never be rushed. Explore all your options before deciding to pursue the advanced education and certifications required to work as a CNS or NP.

Both nursing roles require dedication to years of extra nursing education and clinical experience before you can begin working.

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Nurse Types / Family Nurse Practitioner

Registered nurses looking for added responsibilities and a variety of nursing career prospects may find becoming a family nurse practitioner (FNP) meets the criteria. These advanced practice registered nurses focus on preventative care and helping their patients maintain their health and well-being. 

FNPs enjoy greater autonomy and can choose a nursing specialty that aligns with their interests in this nursing role.

In this article we explore:

• What is a family nurse practitioner?
• What do family nurse practitioners do?
• Where do family nurse practitioners work?
• What are specific types of family nurse practitioners?
• How do you become a family nurse practitioner in 3 steps?
• What are additional requirements of family nurse practitioners?
• What are the salary and career outlooks for family nurse practitioners?

What is a family nurse practitioner?

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are registered nurses who have specialized educational and clinical training in family practice. Their training allows them to work with adults and children.

Many FNPs choose to work in a clinical or family medical practice setting. Others choose to work in underserved communities. FNPs focus on preventative care and helping their patients maintain their health and well-being.

Qualities of a successful family nurse practitioner

If you want to be successful as a family nurse practitioner, you must possess four elements of caring:

• Attentiveness. FNPs should be attentive to their patients’ needs, especially when assessing their conditions.
• Competence. Professional growth is important to FNPs who want to improve patient outcomes and nursing knowledge.
• Responsibility. It’s your job as an FNP to make sure your patients understand their conditions and any treatments prescribed for them.
• Responsiveness. FNPs must evaluate and re-evaluate their patients to ensure treatment plans are making them healthier.

What do family nurse practitioners do?

Becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner is a good career move for nurses who wish to work with patients of all ages.

FNPs emphasize wellness programs designed to preserve and protect their patients’ health. They can act much like a doctor, assessing patients’ health, making diagnoses, and prescribing medication. Some of the diagnoses family nurse practitioners are qualified to make include:

• Allergies and asthma
• Broken bones
• Colds and flu
• Heart attack 
• Respiratory infections

FNPs can prescribe medication in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. There are three types of practice environments for FNPs:

• Full practice is the model recommended by the National Academy of Medicine and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. States which give family nurse practitioners full practice rights allow FNPs to evaluate patients; diagnose, order, and interpret diagnostic testing; create and manage treatment plans; and prescribe medications (including controlled substances).
• Reduced practice limits the setting of one or more elements of an FNP’s scope of practice and requires a career-long regulated collaborative agreement with a healthcare provider.
• Restricted practice is the least desirable situation for an FNP. It restricts the scope of practice and mandates career-long supervision, delegation, or team management by another healthcare provider.

A day in the life of a family nurse practitioner

Because FNPs work with patients of all ages, every day brings new challenges and experiences. You can see a few patients a day or up to 25 a day depending on where you work.

Daily tasks can include:

• Administrative duties (paperwork)
• Assessing and diagnosing health conditions
• Making referrals to specialists
• Ordering diagnostic testing and evaluating the results
• Performing routine physical exams
• Prescribing medications and other treatments

Common conditions treated by a family nurse practitioner

Family nurse practitioners can specialize like other nurses, or they can choose to serve patients with a variety of health conditions.

FNPs that generalize can treat all the same conditions as physicians, including acute, chronic, and complex health problems.

Some of those conditions include:

• Broken bones
• Colds and the flu
• Sinusitis
• Urinary tract infections 

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Where do family nurse practitioners work?

Family nurse practitioners can work in a variety of healthcare settings. In this role, you can work for:

• Community clinics
• Hospitals
• Private practice
• Urgent care centers

If you choose a nursing specialty, like gerontology, you can work with patients in skilled nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Because they enjoy autonomy, some FNPs go into private practice. Not all states permit FNPs to have their own practices, so you must check with your state licensing board to make sure yours is one of them before going this route.

What are specific types of family nurse practitioners?

Becoming a family nurse practitioner is a versatile nursing career choice. In this role, you can specialize in a specific medical condition that aligns with your interests and skills. Some of the options include:

• Neonatal nurse practitioner. If you want to work with newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), you can take the National Certification Corporation’s NNP certification exam.
• Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. If mental health is your passion, then becoming certified as a PMHNP is a solid career move.
• Women’s health nurse practitioner. This is one of the most popular areas for FNPs to specialize in. It focuses on women’s wellness across the age spectrum.  

Closely related fields

Some alternative careers that are like family nurse practitioners include:

• Health education specialist  
• Nursing instructor

How do you become a family nurse practitioner in 3 steps?

Family nurse practitioner candidates undergo rigorous educational training. They must complete an advanced nursing degree and become a registered nurse (RN) as part of the process.

Follow these three steps to get started in your career as an FNP.

Step 1 – Become a registered nurse

All nurse practitioners are licensed registered nurses. Completing a nursing degree is the first step to becoming licensed.

Earn a degree

While you can become a registered nurse with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you eventually must earn an advanced nursing degree to become a licensed FNP. It’s best to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

If you’re already an RN with an ADN, you can enroll in an RN-to-BSN program to fast-track your degree.

Pass the NCLEX

After you complete your BSN degree, the next step is to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. The NCLEX uses a method called Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) to assess your nursing competency. With every question you answer correctly, subsequent questions become more difficult.

If you fail the NCLEX on your first attempt, you can try again after a 45-day waiting period.

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Step 2 – Accumulate experience

Once you have your RN license, you should aim for at least one year of clinical RN experience in an appropriate healthcare setting. If you want to pursue a specialty as an FNP, then try to work in a healthcare environment where those skills can be practiced.

Community clinics and urgent care facilities provide well-rounded exposure to the kinds of conditions you’ll be treating as an FNP. 

Helpful skills and experience

RNs who want to generalize as a family nurse practitioner should consider working in a community clinic or hospital setting where they can treat patients of all ages for a variety of health conditions.

If you decide, for instance, that you want to work in women’s healthcare as an FNP, then consider RN positions in obstetrician’ or gynecologists’ offices or other well-woman clinics.

Changing specialty to family nurse practitioner

Changing your nursing specialty to a nurse practitioner requires having an advanced nursing degree and the appropriate certifications.

If you currently work as an RN in an emergency room and want to transition to a Family Nurse Practitioner in private practice, you must first make sure you have an advanced nursing degree. You also may need to take some continuing education courses to get you up to speed in your new specialty.

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Step 3 – Obtain certifications

Certification is a required step in becoming an FNP. 

There are two Family Nurse Practitioner exams:

FNP-C: For nurse practitioners who are interested in primarily clinical practice and offering direct care to patients. The AANP exam includes 150 questions designed to assess knowledge in subjects like clinical decision-making, evidence-informed practice, health history, and patient education.

FNP-BC: For those who would prefer a role in an academic or research setting. The ANCC exam includes 175 to 200 questions focused on age-appropriate interventions, assessments, pharmacotherapeutics, and regulatory guidelines.

FNPs must renew their certification every five years. This is in addition to maintaining a nursing license through the state licensing board. To maintain a state license to practice, continuing education courses (relevant to field of study) are often required.

What are additional requirements of family nurse practitioners?

As previously mentioned, family nurse practitioners require an advanced nursing degree to practice. That means you can’t stop at a bachelor’s degree.

You must pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from an accredited nursing program at the minimum. Some nursing professionals go even further by pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

There are several ways to get an advanced degree if you’re already working as an RN with a BSN. Here are some of your options:

• RN-to-MSN
• BSN-to-MSN
• BSN-to-DNP
• RN-to-DNP

What are the salary and career outlooks for family nurse practitioners?

The future looks bright for family nurse practitioners and other NP specialties. The U.S. has battled a nursing shortage since 1998. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for Nurse Practitioners of all specialties is expected to grow by 40% from 2021 to 2031.

FNPs earn an average annual salary of $118,040. Some FNPs can earn higher wages depending on their experience level and location.

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Job satisfaction

U.S. News & World Report lists nurse practitioner as the best healthcare job in the nation. Their rating is based on several factors, including job autonomy, salary, and opportunity for advancement.

Next steps

Family nurse practitioners who want to advance their careers have plenty of opportunities. Acquiring a terminal degree in nursing – a Doctor of Nursing Practice or a Doctor of Nursing Philosophy – opens the door to research nursing positions and clinical educator positions.

If you’re not already doing so, choosing a specialty can further expand your horizons as an FNP.

Questions about the best path to achieving your nursing career goals can be directed to other nursing professionals eager to help.

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Nurse Types / Legal Nurse Consultant

Legal Nurse Consultants (LNCs) are licensed registered nurses (RNs) who provide critical analysis of clinical issues in a legal setting. They may testify as an expert witness in a court case about a victim’s injuries or attend independent medical exams as a neutral third party.

LNCs have an in-depth knowledge of the healthcare system, medicine, and nursing. They can work as independent consultants, or for insurance companies and legal firms.

In this nursing role, you’ll bridge the gap between healthcare science, the legal process, and patient outcomes, making you uniquely qualified to serve as a member of a legal team in any setting.

In this article you can learn:

• What is a legal nurse consultant?
• What do legal nurse consultants do?
• Where do legal nurse consultants work?
• What are closely related fields?
• How do you become a legal nurse consultant in 3 steps?
• What are additional requirements of legal nurse consultants?
• What are the salary and career outlooks for legal nurse consultants?

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What is a legal nurse consultant?

Legal nurse consultants are registered nurses who use their clinical expertise to help in legal cases where their knowledge can be beneficial to supporting a case and securing a settlement offer. They can testify in court on behalf of a plaintiff or prosecutor or oversee independent medical exams as a neutral observer to meet legal requirements.

Qualities of a successful legal nurse consultant

Legal nurse consultants must have a deep understanding of the healthcare system, medicine, and nursing best practices to be effective in their roles.

Some of the other qualities that make legal nurse consultants successful include:

• Good communicator. Part of your job may require testifying in court. You must be able to explain medical terminology simply so that jurors and others unfamiliar with medicine can understand your testimony.
• Resourceful. When serving as an expert witness, you might need to develop exhibits or suggest case strategies. Being resourceful can help you find the information you need to support your testimony.  
• Strong organizational skills. Taking complex information and organizing it in a way that makes sense to others is a key part of your job. You must have strong organizational skills to pull it off.

What do legal nurse consultants do?

The role of a legal nurse consultant continually evolves because of the changing nature of the healthcare and legal arenas. Regardless of their job responsibilities or areas of practice, LNCs must keep a calm demeanor and function well under pressure.

LNCs can work on civil rights cases, employment discrimination suits, product liability allegations, and workers’ compensation claims, among other legal practice areas.

Best practices advise legal nurse consultants to work only on cases in which they have a solid clinical foundation. For the most well-rounded experience, LNCs should focus on intensive care or medical-surgical nursing during their studies. These fields expose nurses to many types of conditions allowing them to glean varied information related to nursing. 

A day in the life of a legal nurse consultant

There is no such thing as a typical day in the life of a legal nurse consultant. Due to the nature of the job, you may be testifying in court one day, and overseeing an autopsy as a neutral third party the next.

Daily duties can depend on whether you work for yourself or someone else. However, some of the most common duties for legal nurse consultants include:

• Classifying medical professional standards of practice
• Conducting client interviews and medical literature reviews
• Educating attorneys and other legal representatives about medical issues
• Identifying expert witnesses and securing their testimony for court proceedings
• Preparing for depositions and trials
• Producing exhibits for depositions and trials
• Reviewing and analyzing medical records
• Serving as a jury consultant for a legal team
• Testifying as an expert witness for depositions and trials

Where do legal nurse consultants work?

Legal nurse consultants have options on where – and how – they can use their expertise. Some of the most common employment opportunities include:

• Consulting firms
• Forensic organizations
• Government agencies
• Healthcare facilities
• Patient safety organizations

You also have the option to work for yourself as an independent legal nurse consultant. 

What are closely related fields?

One of the most closely related fields to legal nurse consulting is corporate nurse consultant (CNCs). In this nursing role, you use your technical expertise and instructional skills to develop educational programs for corporations and their employees that align with policies and regulations.

CNCs are registered nurses, so the steps you must take to work in this field are similar to those for becoming a legal nurse consultant.

How do you become a legal nurse consultant in 3 steps?

To work as a legal nurse consultant, you must first become a licensed registered nurse (RN). Exact requirements may vary by state, but all follow similar steps.

You must check with the licensing board for your state to verify the prerequisites before you begin the process.

Here are some of the most common paths to becoming an LNC.

Step 1 – Become a registered nurse

The first step in your journey to a career as a legal nurse consultant is to become a registered nurse (RN). 

Earn a degree

To become a registered nurse, you can enroll in an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

Some states like Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and New York require nursing candidates to earn a BSN before they can sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Other states may only require an ADN.

Even in states where a BSN is not required to become an RN, nursing candidates should consider taking this extra step. Earning a BSN opens the door to jobs with greater responsibilities and higher salaries.

There is a popular bridge program to go from an RN to a BSN. This allows you to earn a bachelor’s degree in about 12-18 months.

If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline, you may qualify for an Accelerated BSN program. These 12-to-18-month programs allow you to focus on healthcare and nursing skills needed for your new career.

Pass the NCLEX exam

Once you complete your nursing education, you must pass the NCLEX exam to become a registered nurse. An RN license is required to work as a legal nurse consultant so this is not a step you can skip.

The NCLEX exam is designed to test your nursing knowledge in an adaptive format. For every question you answer correctly, the difficulty increases. At least 75 questions must be answered to pass the test.

If you fail on your first attempt, you can retake the exam after a 45-day waiting period.

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Step 2 – Accumulate experience

Once you have your RN license, you must accumulate relevant experience in your field before you can work as a legal nurse consultant. If you plan to seek Legal Nurse Consultant Certification (LNCC), you’ll need a minimum of 5 years of experience as an RN to qualify.  

Helpful skills and experience

You can work in any environment as an RN to gain the experience you need to become a certified legal nurse consultant. However, some healthcare settings are more beneficial than others to your future career.

Working in an emergency room or ICU provides exposure to a variety of healthcare conditions and patients, which can help you build your knowledge base.

Changing specialty to a legal nurse consultant

One of the easiest transitions to make if you’re an RN considering changing your specialty is to go from medical-surgical to legal nurse consultant.

Med-surg nurses have broad knowledge of several health conditions, ideally positioning them to serve as experts in their field.

If you already have your RN license, changing from med-surg to legal nurse consultant requires meeting minimum RN clinical hours to qualify. While not required, you may want to seek your Legal Nurse Consultant Certification to prove competency.

Step 3 – Obtain certifications

Certification is not required to work as a legal nurse consultant. LNCs who wish to demonstrate their commitment to the profession and adherence to best practices may choose to take this extra step.

The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) is the certifying body for the Legal Nurse Consultant Certification. Nurses who pursue certification will take an exam based on an analysis of legal nurse consulting practice.

The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions in the form of case studies. It takes about four hours to complete the exam.

Certification lasts five years and can be renewed at the end of the term. Recertification eligibility requires that LNCs meet the following criteria:

• Hold a current, unrestricted RN license
• Complete 2,000 hours of legal nurse consulting practice work within the five years of their original certification period
• Finish 60 contact hours that meet published criteria
• Pass the LNCC certification exam

Legal nurse consultants can learn more about the certification and recertification process on the AALNC website.

What are additional requirements of legal nurse consultants?

Like all nursing professionals, legal nurse consultants must maintain their license to practice. Most state licensing bodies require RNs to complete continuing education courses for renewal.

What are the salary and career outlooks for legal nurse consultants?

The average salary for LNCs is about $78,999. The published range is between $70,869 and $90,312. The average annual RN salary is $82,750.

Your level of education and years of experience affect your salary range as a legal nurse consultant. Other factors that influence salary include geographic location and the size of the employer.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that any nursing career that requires RN licensure will grow by at least 6% between 2021 and 2031.

With demand high, legal nurse consultants should choose employers that offer the best benefits. Supporting professional development, providing tuition reimbursement, and offering paid time off are all perks of an attractive employer.

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Job satisfaction

Legal nurse consultants appreciate the flexibility and diversity of their jobs, which leads to higher levels of job satisfaction. With a high level of autonomy and the ability to help others with your nursing knowledge, working as an LNC can be the change you need to find fulfillment in your career again.

Next steps

Opportunities for advancement are plentiful when you work as a legal nurse consultant. One of the most natural transitions can be moving from an LNC to a nurse attorney.

Becoming a nurse attorney requires you to have dual degrees: one in nursing and one in law. You must be a licensed RN and hold a BSN degree on the nursing side.

All states except California, Virginia, and Washington require you to attend law school before you can take the bar exam to earn your law license. Completing law school can take an additional 3 years of full-time study.

You can always consult other nursing professionals to see if becoming a legal nurse consultant is the right path for you.

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