Legal Nurse Consulting established itself as a nursing specialty in the late 1970s and further established itself with the founding of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) in 1989. The University of Georgia Legal Nurse Consultant training, available to registered nurses and PAs, prepares students to take and pass the certified legal nurse consultant exam. The program uses bi-monthly start dates with six start date options throughout the year, and students complete their courses online. The program lasts 42 hours and counts for 4.2 credits of training. This fast and affordable program takes much less time than the other options on this list. If your goal is to see a legal nurse, you must first become a registered nurse. To do this, you need to do the following: The position of legal nurse consultant is mainly held by insurance companies. Most companies in this industry require candidates to be registered nurses (RNs) and prefer those with multiple years of clinical experience. Some companies may specifically look for registered nurses who have worked in other departments of the hospital, such as the emergency room. Some companies prefer candidates who have a legal certificate or paralegal training. Nurses with experience in case management or .

Read more What exactly does a nurse legal consultant do on a daily basis? And beyond that, does it vary by industry or workplace? Lawyers generally do not understand medical terminology and may not be able to interpret patient records or accurately communicate information to a judge or jury. As a legal nurse consultant, the main task is to educate the legal team on medical issues related to a case in order to determine what legal actions should be taken. The University of Arizona offers a seven-week training course for legal practitioners for registered nurses and PAs. Like other programs, this option is fully online and offers six different launch dates throughout the year. The course lasts about 42 hours. While the cost is higher than similar options, students can take advantage of Arizona`s extensive network. First, check out the career pages of the websites of the medical defect companies and CNL consulting firms you are interested in. There are many online resources available for job search, including nursing social media sites, career sites, and dedicated nursing career sites like our own job site nurse.org. The earning potential of a legal nurse consultant is not limited by location.

In fact, while working from home, many nurse legal consultants do business with attorneys in multiple states. This allows them to maintain a high quality of life and demand a living wage for nurse consultants in whatever field they want to live in. For example, Janice Lange, RN. aut., BSN, CLNC, and Joyce Gerdes, RN, NSB, LNC have expanded their legal practice consulting activities in 11 states. Take a look at their history. More experienced nurse legal consultants charge up to $200 per hour. As a post-bachelor`s program, Wilmington University`s Legal Nurse Consultant certificate requires nurses to first complete a BSN. However, the program allows online study and nurses can use all credits completed in the program to earn a university degree. Because the program uses actual college courses and credits, the cost is higher than other programs. Anyone interested in becoming a legal nursing consultant and eventually earning an MSN could get a head start thanks to Wilmington. 5. Preparation for court and other legal proceedings Nurse legal consultants play a dynamic and varied role.

They apply their expertise in a range of areas of law that are constantly evolving as health care, medical science and legal practice change. The AALNC identifies the following practice areas for CNL: In addition to the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, a number of other organizations also provide information on CNL`s role and/or nursing and legal issues: With more than 1,300,000 lawyers practicing in the United States, the demand for legal nurse consultants has never been higher. Nowhere are lawyers able to find a more cost-effective addition to their litigation team when they need medical expertise. Her in-depth knowledge of nursing, medicine and the broader health care system means that her contributions are leveraged in all types of medical legal cases across the health care spectrum. This makes them particularly qualified and valuable members of the legal and patient care teams. There are two types of official recognition for a legal nurse consultant to consider: nursing licensure and specialty certification. California State University`s Long Beach Legal Nurse Advisor Training Course is entirely online, preventing nurses from moving to Southern California for seven weeks. However, the program is ideal for anyone interested in a career as a legal nurse consultant. The program requires nurses to pass multiple exams to earn the certificate, and CSU Long Beach estimates that the program lasts 42 hours, which is good for 4.2 hours of continuing education credits. Stony Brook University`s Legal Nurse Consultant training is offered in a single course and is designed for registered nurses and PAs.

The course lasts 42 hours, although it is divided into three sessions. Stony Brook designs sessions that last about two months, so it takes about six months to complete this program. Although lengthy, Stony Brook offers an incredibly low rate for the course, and nurses have a lot of flexibility with studies during the course. With one of the most affordable certification programs for nurse consultants, Florida Atlantic University attracts nurses from all over the country. The online program requires an active registered nurse license and three years of clinical nursing experience, so only experienced nurses can apply. This eight-week program also has 33 continuing education credits and prepares nurses for the certified exam as a legal nurse consultant. The cost alone makes it a good option, both for the certificate and for continuing education credits. For registered nurses who are considering other career options and prefer to work in a healthy environment, counseling nurses is an exciting way to change careers and positively impact their salary. Nurse Legal Advisors (CNLs) are registered nurses who provide lawyers with invaluable advice and expertise on medical matters. Nurse legal consultants can work in different environments. From courtrooms to government agencies, his litigation expertise is invaluable.

A legal nurse consultant can work in the following areas: The majority of legal nurse consultants choose to earn CNL certification from the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants. While not a requirement, certification helps candidates differentiate themselves and demonstrate their knowledge and commitment in a highly competitive field. Eligibility for the exam requires at least five years of experience as a registered nurse and 2,000 hours of judicial counseling. Nurse legal consultants work with lawyers on nursing errors or other legal matters in the health care field. Their task is to evaluate, analyze and give opinions on the case, as well as to identify, organize and analyze medical records. They serve as assistants for licensed lawyers, bridging the gap between the law and the world of nursing and health care. They are dedicated and persistent and willing to devote tremendous time and energy to a variety of legal/medical cases. They examine the elements of malpractice in care and treatment and other areas of health claims such as workers` compensation, product liability, and countless other medical and legal issues. The median annual salary for registered nurses was $75,330 per year in May 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS does not disclose salaries for legal nurse consultants, but Payscale reports that their average annual salary in 2020 is $77,773, or $49.47 per hour.

Nurse legal consultants often manage and analyze applicants` medical records. They assist in the analysis of medical records; Interpret physician and nurse notes and prepare chronologies, tables, tables and chronologies of medical records. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the highest-paying RN jobs are all clustered in California, especially in metropolitan areas like San Francisco and San Jose. While this is good news for registered nurses working in these fields, the vast majority of registered nurses have limited earning potential due to where they live. Legal Nurse Consulting allows you to work independently and with many types of people and requires you to operate well under pressure. Regardless of the work environment, CNL performs many specialized functions, including: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that nursing employment will grow by 12% by 2028 — much faster than the average for all jobs. In addition, the aging of baby boomer nurses approaching retirement and the growing health needs of baby boomers are leading to a current and projected shortage of future care. Although not mandatory, certification as a legal nurse consultant is recommended.