LEGAL NURSE CONSULTANT
A legal nurse consultant or LNC is a registered nurse who provide medical counsel and serves as analyst, collaborator, strategist, researcher, and educator on legal matters. LNC underwent specialized training to consult on medical-related legal cases and to able to assist attorneys in reading medical records and understanding medical terminology and healthcare issues.
The legal nurse consultant performs the following essential duties:
- Participate in client interviews
- Identify, organize and analyze pertinent medical records
- Prepare a chronology, timeline or other summary of documentation in medical records
- Conduct medical literature searches and assist in other research
- Identify applicable standards of care in medical malpractice cases
- Identify, screen and facilitate review by expert witnesses
- Evaluate case strengths and weaknesses
- Draft or analyze medical portions of legal documents
- Evaluate causation and damages issues
- Educate attorneys and clients regarding relevant medical issues
- Identify plaintiff’s future medical needs and associated costs
- Participate in case management and case strategy discussions
- Attend independent medical exams
- Serve as a nurse expert witness
- Perform cost of care estimates for long term care treatment and catastrophic case management scenarios
- Locate or prepare demonstrative evidence for trial
- Assist with preparation for and support during deposition, trial or ADR
Where does the LNC practice?
LNCs may be found working for law firms, government agencies, insurance companies, HMOs, healthcare facilities as part of the risk management department, forensic environments, LNC consulting firms, patient safety organizations, and may also be in independent practice.
How to become a legal nurse consultant?
Become a certified legal nurse consultant by completing a nursing degree or any nursing program and passing the nursing licensure examination. Common courses in nursing programs include medical terminology, human anatomy, psychology, nutrition and chemistry and any clinical sessions in various medical departments like pediatrics, oncology, surgery or the emergency room.
Prior to becoming a certified LNC, one must obtain a working experience in clinical nursing setting such as in doctor's offices, home healthcare services, hospitals or in government agencies. After this, legal nurse consultant training courses or certificate programs must be completed next.
How much money can LNC make?
According to www.findlnc.com, the amount a legal nurse consultant is paid depends on a number of factors including the place of employment, geographic area, and specialty. Generally, legal nurse consultants are independent contractors and freelancers. However, a person in this field can make significantly more than that if he or she has specialized knowledge or perform critical duties like preparing witnesses for testimony or doing depositions.
On the other hand, legal nurse consultants that work for hospitals typically make about $60 to $80 while full-time employees earn about $80,000 per year with benefits such as paid vacations and health insurance.
Benefits of an LNC
This profession is an excellent way for registered nurses to make more money while working a more flexible schedule. They can set their own hours and accept or decline assignments.
Sources: www.aalnc.org, www.findlnc.com, www.wikipedia.com
Published at: 05/07/2015
