Logo

How To Become A Certified Legal Nurse Consultant

Category: Legal Nurse     Author: Georgina Tyburski     Posted: Friday - November 13, 2015

How To Become A Certified Legal Nurse ConsultantCertified legal nurse consultants are registered nurses who also provide services as legal medical experts and liaisons between attorneys and medical sources. These nursing expert witnesses provide insight into medical issues in order to assist in legal matters.

Five Steps to Becoming a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant

  1. Complete a nursing program: Three types of nursing programs are offered: diplomas, associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. To become a registered nurse, one must complete courses in medical terminology, human anatomy, psychology, physiology, chemistry, and nutrition. Students also need to complete clinical sessions in different medical departments: pediatrics, oncology, surgery, and the emergency room. Other training may include practice at elder-care facilities, community clinics, and public health departments.

  2. Become licensed: After completing a nursing program, one must next complete licensing procedures in accordance with specific state laws, as well as pass the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses. Only after obtaining these requirements can one be a registered nurse.

  3. Gain experience: Those who apply for certification as a certified legal nurse consultant must have extensive experience in clinical nursing. Applicants must have at least five years of practice as a registered nurse.

  4. Complete the Legal Nurse Consultant Training Program: An LNC training program covers topics such as medical records analysis and review, legal terminology, forensic nursing, and trial preparation.

  5. Get certification: Certification is not required to be a legal nurse consultant, but having the credential is highly beneficial. Certification applicants must prove that they have completed a minimum of 2,000 hours of LNC services. They must also pass an exam that includes elder law, personal injury, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation laws.

You may be wondering why we need legal nursing consultants. The answer: medical malpractice suits are all too common. In fact, 12,000 deaths are caused by unnecessary surgery every year, and as a result, more than nine out of 10 doctors report that physicians over-test and over-treat in order to protect themselves from malpractice lawsuits. Very few medical malpractice claims actually make their way to a jury trial, but doctors win 79.6% of those that do. A certified legal nurse consultant assists the court in achieving justice.


Bottom