San Diego the Birthplace of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
AALNC was conceived by several nurses who in the 1980's worked for various law firms in San Diego or as independent consultants. Karen Wetther began working at Wingert, Grebinng, Anello and Chapin in January 1983. A few years later Rosanna Janes joined Luce, Forward, Hamilton, and Scripps and Kathleen Loeffler began her independent LNC practice. By the late 1980's this group of registered nurses were meeting for brown bag lunches to define their role as medical litigation analysts both in-house and in independent practice. In May 1987, five nurses, met to outline the purpose of this new vision.
By October of 1987, nine nurses were meeting and calling themselves the San Diego Association of Medical Legal Nurse Consultants. Their mission was to educate the legal community on the role of legal nurse consultants as a liaison between the medical and legal communities. The Association "would provide a network for members to share various areas of expertise." These nine nurses began assisting other nurse consultants outside of San Diego to form Chapters of this Association, published articles in legal publications and developed a brochure for attorneys. Chapters began forming.
The Arizona Chapter was featured in an American Bar Association Magazine article and the word was out nationally. Paula Schenk and Rosanna Janes attended a seminar in Phoenix, where they met Carolyn Elrich and agreed to collaborate in developing a National Organization. By October 1988, 15 nurses from the State of California and Carolyn Elrich, from the Arizona Chapter, convened to develop a National Association. In June 1989 a 14 member Steering Committee for the National Association met at Luce Forward Hamilton and Scripps in San Diego. One month later, the "American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants" was born as 36 nurses from across the country met for the Second Steering Committee meeting.
Full Chapter History Available for Download Below:
