A medical professional legal nurse consultant (LNC) can make all the difference when your law office needs medical expertise and you don’t have the time to develop that expertise in-house.
5 Qualities Attorneys Looks for in a Legal Nurse Consultant
But how do you choose the legal nurse consulting firm? That’s where this guide comes in. Legal nurse consultants can bring both medical and legal experience to bear on your case, so it’s crucial to find someone who knows his or her way around both spheres of expertise.
Use these five qualities to help you find the right legal nurse consultant match for your team.
1. Demonstrated Excellence
Nurse consultants provide expert analysis and advice to attorneys on medical malpractice cases. They are usually called upon when an attorney needs specialized information about the medical aspects of a case, such as expert witnesses.
To be successful, it’s important to have great communication skills and the ability to explain difficult concepts in layman’s terms.
It is also crucial that you have excellent research skills so you can find materials quickly and accurately. You must be knowledgeable about the field of nursing, law, and medical terminology so you can adequately assess whether or not there is a liability for negligence.
To demonstrate your excellence as a nurse consultant, make sure you are always up-to-date on recent developments in healthcare law by reading professional journals and keeping up with new developments at conferences.
2. Well-Rounded Experience
A well-rounded experience is crucial. This includes both clinical and administrative work, as well as education, professional development, and research. You should be able to speak to any of these topics with ease.
Being able to walk the walk AND talk the talk will set you apart from other candidates. This is important because attorneys need someone who can anticipate their needs and provide them with all the information they need without having to ask too many questions.
3. Working Knowledge of the Law
Nurse consultants, like nurses, are required to maintain their current knowledge of the law.
The following are five qualities that all attorneys look for when hiring legal nurse consultants:
- An excellent understanding of the law
- Accuracy and thoroughness when researching cases
- Ability to communicate with patients, attorneys, and other healthcare professionals
- Detail oriented individual who can complete tasks with accuracy and efficiency
- Ability to work well on a team or independently
4. Expertise in Nursing Standards and Practice
Nurse consultants are an integral part of the legal process, and they can be an attorney’s best friend. They provide critical knowledge about all aspects of nursing, from standards and practices to the most current research on various treatments. This can give attorneys a leg up when it comes to their cases.
Nurses who are looking to become legal nurse consultants should have experience with nursing standards and practice as well as extensive knowledge about the subject matter at hand or the case at hand, if you will.
They should also have excellent interpersonal skills, be able to work well under pressure and understand how important it is not to share privileged information without explicit consent from the client or attorney.
5. Compliance with HIPAA Rules
Every legal nurse consultant will be subject to HIPAA rules and policies, no matter their role. This means that all of your work with the attorney will be covered by the same confidentiality requirements.
Additionally, as a legal nurse consultant, you must be able to respect client privacy and maintain the confidentiality of any information you see, hear or learn while working with an attorney.
You should also know how to properly dispose of any documents containing sensitive information, so as not to violate the law. If you are unable to comply with HIPAA rules and policies, then you may not want to become a legal nurse consultant.
SPNLC & Associates: Professional Medical Professional Legal Consultant Firm
Every attorney needs a legal nurse consultant to help them win their case – and that’s what we specialize in at SPNLC & Associates. Our team is detail oriented and is always updated on the latest medical law matters.
Contact us today to learn more about our services!