What Does a Legal Nurse Consultant Do?
A legal nurse consultant is a registered nurse who has specialized review skills, knowledge in the medical industry and expertise in the legal process. They have the ability to review and analyze medical records and identify relevant facts, as well as understand the implications in the medical records. By taking the details and facts of the case and pursuing them as they relate to the medical records, the legal nurse consultant is able to create a comprehensive consultation report. A legal nurse consultant may assist attorneys, insurance companies, legal professionals or corporations that deal with the medical industry, whether it is for malpractice claims, personal injury or insurance claims. Their services are provided in civil or criminal cases to find the truth of a matter and provide a third-party, objective review of the medical facts of a case . The legal nurse consultant is tasked with reviewing medical records, drawing conclusions, retaining and/or providing medical experts, and finding and reviewing experts in the fields that are pertinent to the case. They may find themselves working with both sides of the case, assisting in the preparation of the medical aspects of the case, which in turn saves the attorney both time and money on the case at hand. The legal nurse consultant is always up-to-date on the ever-changing trends and issues in the medical field, which allows them to keep pace with new medical information that is crucial to every case. The bridge between the medical industry and the legal industry is one that a legal nurse consultant can navigate seamlessly.
The Demand for Legal Nurse Consultants Today
With the growing complexity of the healthcare system, including electronic medical records, new treatment options, and an increasing amount of paper, there is a large amount of information health care providers must collect, maintain, and transfer for evidentiary purpose. This increase in information creates a need for legal nurse consultants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for legal nurse consultants is expected to increase by 22% through the year 2026. The Bureau also notes the expected increase in demand for nursing home care which will create a further demand for legal nurse consultants and legal nurse consultant services.
Trends Increasing the Need for Legal Nurse Consulting
The demand for legal nurse consultants has steadily increased in recent years. This increase aligns with the explosion in health care litigation that has risen since the late twentieth century, along with the growth of the medical-legal profession as a whole. Nursing consultants were introduced in the United States in the late 1970s as a response to court cases alleging negligence in hospitals and nursing homes. Since then, the demand for expert testimony, document review, witness preparation, and educational consulting has skyrocketed, and more and more attorneys have started to turn to legal nurse consultants for assistance with health care litigation. There are several reasons why this increase in demand has occurred. One important factor can be attributed to the increased complexity and scope of regulation that hospitals and other health-related entities must endure, as well as the growing amounts of patient claims and injury awards. There has also been an uptick in the number of claims against physicians, hospitals, manufacturers, and insurance companies over the last three decades. In the 1970s, billions were awarded against hospitals. By the late 1990s, patient claims against hospitals reached tens of billions of dollars. Mistrust and apprehension of the medical industry are a crucial reason for the increase in claims against these medical-related entities. Common perception is that doctors are overworked, poorly trained, or simply negligent due to lack of ample funds. However, with the large amounts of money on the line with a health care claim, a change in the way the courts view medical cases is becoming apparent. In the past decade, the primary reason for awarding a substantial patient claim has leaned towards the opinion of a medical expert testifying in court. As such, there is a high need for these experts whenever a medical case goes to trial, for the testimony often determines the outcome of the case.
Benefits of a Career as a Legal Nurse Consultant
One of the primary benefits of becoming a nurse, and especially a nurse with a background in advanced practice (which requires both a BSN and MSN), is the many opportunities you have for career advancement. There are, of course, obvious paths, such as becoming a nurse practitioner or a nurse educator, but what about a career in health law? Or, more specifically, as a legal nurse consultant?
Consultants and business experts in the healthcare industry know a good thing when they see it. A skilled legal nurse consultant can be an invaluable asset to their firm , as they can guarantee that the case will be expertly prepared. CLNCs are masters at answering a very long list of questions that can have a huge bearing on the outcome of a case.
The good news for nurses who choose this route is the salary potential. A legal nurse consultant can make between $75-$150 per hour, depending on their level of expertise. In a study conducted a few years ago by ALN pdf, it was found that legal nurse consultants were making, on average, $80 per hour, with those who had over ten years of experience making, on average, $150 per hour.
The complete flexibility in your private practice allows you to determine your work-life balance while still earning a great salary. Many legal nurse consultants report working anywhere from 10-40 hours per week.
What It Takes to Be a Legal Nurse Consultant
To be a legal nurse consultant, certain qualifications, skills, and experience are essential. It can help to have a degree in nursing or other medical field for additional expertise. Although some firms do hire those without medical degrees as staff, experience in the nursing field is necessary for working as an independent consultant. Experience working in a variety of medical and hospital settings can be particularly useful. Specific skills and traits are crucial in the legal nurse injury field, namely the following: The legal nurse consultant position is a fast-growing field that many haven fallen back on after leaving the full-time nursing industry. Legal nursing is ideal for those looking to continue using their nursing skills in a different way, and many find it rewarding for the work-life balance it provides. It is also a growing field that should see continual advancements as the healthcare industry continues to rapidly grow.
Future Demand for Legal Nurse Consultants
The future outlook for the legal nurse consultant field is bright. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics indicates that they expect that career for nurse consultants to grow 14% from 2014 to 2024. This increase is much higher than the general job growth for all jobs , which is 7%. They also predict that the need for nurse consultants will be due to an aging population and the continued need for healthcare services. The technological advances will make for great opportunities for nurse consultants and allow them to work with clients from all over the world.