Many nurses are leaving bedside nursing to pursue other ways to use their nursing knowledge. High stress, dangerous nurse to patient ratios, mandatory overtime and lack of respect for bedside nurses are all contributing factors to nurses leaving the clinical setting.
An Introduction to Legal Nurse Consulting
One way that nurses have found to use their knowledge and become independent is legal nurse consulting. A legal nurse consultant will act as a liaison between the medical and legal fields. A legal nurse consultant is a valuable member of any litigation team. If you are a nurse with an interest in law, read on to discover more about this exciting career opportunity.
So what is a legal nurse consultant? It is a registered nurse that can use her nursing experience to evaluate, analyze and render informed opinions on the delivery of health care and the outcome of this delivery. The duties of a legal nurse consultant can include but are not limited to the following list shown below...
Educating attorneys and others about the healthcare facts and issues of a case or claim.
Research healthcare and nursing literature guidelines and standards as it relates to the case or claim. The legal nurse will provide copies of this literature to the attorney for reference.
The legal nurse consultant will also identify, locate and evaluate possible expert witnesses.
One of the main duties of the legal nurse consultant is to asses the damages and causation relating to the case.
A legal nurse consultant can also testify as an expert witness in some cases.
The legal nurse consultant will provide support during discovery, depositions, trials and other legal proceedings.
Keep in mind that the above is just a short list of what a legal nurse consultant can do. There are many other duties dependent upon the nurse’s area of expertise and her employer. There is some confusion about a legal nurse consultant being the same as a paralegal. While it is true that the legal nurse consultant and the paralegal may share some duties at times, the legal nurse consultant must possess a nursing degree.
So what type of education does a legal nurse consultant have? As stated before, a legal nurse consultant must first be a registered nurse. She does not have to hold a bachelor’s degree. A nurse should have at least three to five years of experience in a clinical setting. It is not mandatory for a legal nurse consultant to have a degree in law. Some attorneys will hire nurses to work for them and give them “on the job” training concerning the legal procedures.
Most nurses will choose to take a legal nurse consulting course. Colleges and online programs will offer certificates in legal nurse consulting. Once the nurse becomes certified she can choose to work as an independent. This will allow her to have her own business. Other nurses will choose to become an employee of a law firm, insurance company, government agency or hospital.
What is the average income of an LNC? It depends on how the legal nurse is employed. If the nurse chooses to be on staff as an employee for a law firm or other type of agency, she can expect to make on the average of $80,000 per year. This will depend upon her level of experience and location of the job.
If the legal nurse decides to be an independent and work for herself, she can expect to bill on the average of $100-$150 an hour. But you need to keep in mind that a legal nurse who works for herself must be able to market her services effectively and pay her own insurance.
So if you are a nurse with some experience under your belt and you need a change, legal nurse consulting may be right for you. If is a fascinating and exciting opportunity that will give you the chance to use your nursing expertise and be your own boss. Imagine the freedom of having a well paying job that you could actually do from home.
The Nursing RN to BSN degree completion program at South University allows registered nurses with associate degrees to complete their bachelor’s degrees. The program is offered at three South University campuses and online. Learn more about South University | Request free info
The Nursing RN to BSN degree completion program at South University allows registered nurses with associate degrees to complete their bachelor’s degrees. The program is offered at three South University campuses and online.
