For those who are interested in a career that covers healthcare and law, the field of legal nurse consulting could give you the best of both worlds. Legal nurse consultants are responsible for assisting attorneys with medical cases and serving as expert witnesses for issues such as personal injury, malpractice, or product liability. The demand for these positions is on the rise and it’s a lucrative career choice for those who actively pursue it.
We’re going to be looking at the ins and outs of this field, and examine how they can be tangible assets for attorneys who need another set of eyes on medical documents and cases. Here at SPLNC & Associates, we are commited to aligning our team of legal nurse consultants in Michigan to better assist attorneys who need the reinforcement for their cases.
What Is a Legal Nurse Consultant?
A legal nurse consultant is a registered nurse whose primary focus is providing expert testimony on behalf of health care professionals. They work with lawyers and judges to determine whether a patient received proper treatment while under the care of a physician. In some states, nurses must obtain specialty training to become legal nurse consultants.
Legal nurse consultants work closely with physicians and hospitals, offering advice on how best to treat patients. Their expertise includes understanding the intricacies of medicine and nursing, including the role of nurses within the practice of medicine.
Nurses who want to pursue a career as a legal nurse consultant must complete a master’s degree program. There are many schools across the United States that offer online programs designed specifically for legal nurse consultants.
Responsibilities And Skill Sets
The daily responsibilities and skill sets required for this role is very intricate, to say the least. LNC’s roles could vary as they can assume the roles of collaborators, analysts, researchers, and strategists. Their proficiency with healthcare and law allows them the opportunity to weigh in on medicine, nursing, and healthcare systems.
The following are the responsibilities that LNC’s execute when on the job:
- Joining client interviews
- Analyzing medical records and documentation
- Research and searches with the appropriate literature
- Assessing the standards of care
- Drafting legal and medical documents
- Providing expertise in court testimonies
- Putting together evidence for a trial
- Handling cost care estimates
- Helping with depositions
Skills Learned
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Communication Skills
In addition to this, legal nurse consultants in Michigan are expected to have a good understanding of anatomy and physiology, legal terminology, and understanding various medical treatments. Consultants should also be equipped with extensive knowledge and expertise in nursing and clinical experiences. Legal nurse consultants that have acquired 2000 hours of experience in the field are eligible for the Legal Nurse Consultant Certification (LNCC), which is issued by the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board.
Salary & Perception Of The Role
Salary for the role depends on the type of employment you have. Salaries are dependent on factors like location, level of experience, and the caseload you’ve managed up until that point. In some cases, LNC’s will set up their own consulting practices and charge law firms for their services. The job outlook for legal nurse consultants is impacted by the number of legal cases that relate to medical practices and medication, especially those that make it to courtrooms in the presence of government agencies. The healthcare sector is growing at a fast rate, and this increases the number of malpractice lawsuits that come up every year. You can read more about these findings here.
Are Legal Nurse Consultants in Demand in Detroit MI?
This is a great question as the industry is growing very rapidly. According to Zippia concludes the following legal nurse statistics:
- 4,585 is the estimated number of Legal Nurse Consultants currently employed in the United States
- 85.1% to 9.1% is the ratio between women and men who are currently working as legal nurse consultants
- 44 years old is the average age of a legal nurse consultant in the United States
- Houston TX, and Atlanta GA are the main cities where most legal nurses are employed
- $64,800 per year is the average annual salary of a legal nurse
- 10% of highest-paid Legal Nurse Consultants earn as much as $101,000+
This is important to know the average statistics for legal nurses in the United States which has been compiled across 30 million job profiles across the internet. This data shows that there is plenty of demand and very little supply in this industry. We all know that the medical industry is growing rapidly. One report mentioned the US economy is budgeting $3 trillion to medical expenses which is almost 1/2 of the annual budget. This profession is high in demand according to our analysis.
Working With The Professional Legal Nurse Consultants In Detroit, MI
Here at SPLNC & Associates, we are dedicated to utilizing the skill sets of our consultants to better serve your legal team, with nurse consultants across the US. By having their resources available on your team, it will certainly augment your rate of success. For more information on our process, you can contact us today to learn more!