A legal nurse consultant (LNC) is a registered nurse who has received additional training in the area of forensic nursing.
This training may be obtained through a certificate program or an associate's degree in forensic nursing.
A legal nurse consultant is an expert witness specializing in the medical aspects of legal cases.
Responsibilities of a Legal Nurse Consultant
Here is a quick outlook on the role of a Legal Nurse Consultant
The role of a legal nurse consultant is to provide expert medical testimony during court proceedings. The legal field is filled with jargon and legalese that can be difficult to understand for those who don't work in the area. A legal nurse consultant will translate complicated medical information into terms that are easily understood by the general public, lawyers, and judges alike.
Legal nurse consultants have many responsibilities, including:
- Providing expert medical testimony
- Preparing expert reports
- Preparing patients for trial or deposition
- Reviewing medical records, police reports, and other documents before trial or deposition
Legal Nurse Consultant Salary
Now, you might wonder what the salary of a Legal Nurse Consultant is.
Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 2,982,200 registered nurses are employed in America, with an average salary range of $37.24 to $77,460 per hour.
Becoming an LNC!
Becoming a legal nurse consultant is not an easy task, but it is something that can be done with hard work and dedication. There are no shortcuts; however, if you're willing to put in the time and effort, you can make it happen.
Several steps must be taken before becoming an LNC. This guide will help place you on the right path to becoming an LNC, so read on!
Step 1: Become an RN
Becoming a registered nurse (RN) is the first step to becoming a legal nurse consultant. The requirements for becoming an RN vary by state, but in most cases, you'll need to have completed a bachelor's degree program and have passed the NCLEX-RN exam.
Step 2: Join an organization (Optional)
After graduating from college, while this is not necessary in any case, joining an organization related to your career field can be a big help.
This will help you gain more experience and knowledge about what it takes to become successful in this industry. Some organizations include The American Nurses Association (ANA) and The American Medical Association (AMA). These organizations hold conferences annually where experts come together to discuss different nursing and medicine topics.
Step 3: Gain Experience
Generally, five years of experience as an RN is required to get an LNC certification. Some states may allow less experienced nurses to obtain legal nurse consultant certification—but only if they pass additional training requirements.
Step 4: Get Certified
Getting a Legal Nurse Consultant certification is not necessary in most cases. Still, it helps with your own promotion and brings you a step further from other Legal Nurse Consultant competitions.
AALNC offers certification for legal nurse consultants. To become certified, you must meet the eligibility criteria and then pass a certification exam. Once you do, you officially become Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) and can use that title to promote yourself on your business cards, website, or anywhere else you might want to mention it.
It's A Wrap!
I hope this has been helpful and, at the same time, insightful to your future as a Legal Nurse Consultant. As with any career, it requires hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.
Hopefully, you now have a clearer understanding of just what it takes to become a legal nurse consultant, not to mention the steps that you can take in order to get there.
