Registered nurses (RNs) with their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree can pursue many interesting careers outside of the job roles associated with advanced nursing practice, administration or education. One such career is that of the legal nurse consultant. Through educational opportunities like the online RN to MSN program from The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), working RNs can gain the specialized expertise and advanced credential needed to excel in this fascinating nursing role.
Why Are There Legal Nurse Consultants?
Medical and legal fields cross paths in areas like medical malpractice, personal injury, workers compensation and billing fraud. When this happens, attorneys and other legal professionals call on medical personnel for consulting and expert opinions. A legal nurse consultant may be one of those experts.
According to the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC), “Legal nurse consulting is the analysis and evaluation of facts and testimony and the rendering of informed opinions related to the delivery of nursing and other healthcare services and outcomes, and the nature and cause of injuries.” The legal nurse consultant “performs a critical analysis of clinically related issues in a variety of settings in the legal arena.” It is important to note that an legal nurse consultant does not practice law, perform paralegal functions or act as a legal assistant.
Role and Duties of an LNC
A legal nurse consultant may organize and analyze medical records and related litigation materials, conduct client interviews, do medical literature searches, or locate and prepare demonstrative evidence. In medical malpractice cases, the legal nurse consultant may identify standards of care or put together healthcare event chronologies and compare them to allegations made in a case.
Other activities that may be part of legal nurse consulting include:
- Helping establish the merits or defensibility of a case
- Helping attorneys develop case management and trial strategy
- Assisting with depositions and trials, including developing and preparing exhibits
- Identifying, screening, retaining and consulting expert witnesses
- Serving as a liaison among attorneys, healthcare providers, clients and experts
Legal nurse consultants practice in various areas like general professional negligence (medical malpractice) or other personal injury litigation (such as auto accident and slip and fall cases). Further areas in which legal nurse consultants provide services include case management, life-care planning, Medicare set-asides, product liability, risk management, toxic torts (exposure to hazardous chemicals or substances), and workers compensation.
Legal nurse consultants may be employees of law firms, insurance companies, government agencies or hospitals. Other legal nurse consultants are independent practitioners who offer consulting services.
Becoming an LNC
Nurses began consulting in the legal field in the late 1970s. Typically, a registered nurse (RN) — having no law training — learned about the law by working with attorneys and self-study. Even today, on-the-job training is a common way for nurses to get started in legal consulting.
The only experience required to become a legal nurse consultant is licensure and experience as an RN. However, nurses can attend a formal legal nurse consulting program, or a certificate program offered by educational institutions or for-profit businesses. Other education options include paralegal programs or other legal seminars.
Although a bachelor’s or advanced nursing degree is not a requirement for consulting, nurses may find that completing an RN to MSN program increases their value (and earnings) in the consulting field. Nurses may also increase their value by becoming certified as a Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC). Nurses must have at least five years of experience as an RN and 2,000 hours of legal nurse consulting experience during the five years prior to be able to take the AALNC certification exam.
Becoming a legal nurse consultant can offer a rewarding career for nurses who have an interest in the legal system and want to move away from clinical practice. This career path offers the flexibility to work in a variety of areas — attorneys’ offices, government agencies, independent contractor and more. If you are considering a career as a legal nurse consultant, research the options and find what works best for you.
Learn more about UTA’s online RN to MSN program.
