Archive for July, 2010
Easy Steps to Become Certified Nurse Assistant
Pankaj Gupta asked:
The question which many people would probably ask is who is a nursing assistant? A certified nursing assistant is a medical personnel specializing in helping patients in matters involving health care and how to go about it in their day to day lives. Just like an ordinary nurse, the certified nursing assistant is in charge of offering the basic care needed by a patient who is admitted. The nursing assistant will always perform his or her medical duties under the strict supervision of a senior or qualified nurse. The work of a certified nursing assistant sharpens him through experience, and with time may be allowed to perform major tasks in the hospital or health centre.
The guide to becoming a certified nurse assistant is easy; first of all you have to have the drive and motivation that indeed you can make it in this field. Secondly you need to embark on looking for a recognized and highly reputable medical school, and why so? Over the years many individuals have been denied permits and chances to practice as nursing assistants because they went to poor or uncertified academic medical institutions. Before you are employed your employer will need to know where you under went your assistant nursing course, whether you have any work experience and whether it was from a recognized and certified institution.
To be on the safe side when choosing to take up the assistant nursing course you are required to have a basic understanding of the expertise that comes with this nursing field; it is actually important to have an interest in the medical field as a whole. The reason why you will be required to have an interest in the above is because most of the time your duty will be to take care of weak patients, disadvantaged individuals and the old. An online nursing assistant course can make your dream of helping people come true; all you need is to locate a good institution and find out what is required to enroll. As you study, you can perfect your skills through voluntary work.
Website content
The question which many people would probably ask is who is a nursing assistant? A certified nursing assistant is a medical personnel specializing in helping patients in matters involving health care and how to go about it in their day to day lives. Just like an ordinary nurse, the certified nursing assistant is in charge of offering the basic care needed by a patient who is admitted. The nursing assistant will always perform his or her medical duties under the strict supervision of a senior or qualified nurse. The work of a certified nursing assistant sharpens him through experience, and with time may be allowed to perform major tasks in the hospital or health centre.
The guide to becoming a certified nurse assistant is easy; first of all you have to have the drive and motivation that indeed you can make it in this field. Secondly you need to embark on looking for a recognized and highly reputable medical school, and why so? Over the years many individuals have been denied permits and chances to practice as nursing assistants because they went to poor or uncertified academic medical institutions. Before you are employed your employer will need to know where you under went your assistant nursing course, whether you have any work experience and whether it was from a recognized and certified institution.
To be on the safe side when choosing to take up the assistant nursing course you are required to have a basic understanding of the expertise that comes with this nursing field; it is actually important to have an interest in the medical field as a whole. The reason why you will be required to have an interest in the above is because most of the time your duty will be to take care of weak patients, disadvantaged individuals and the old. An online nursing assistant course can make your dream of helping people come true; all you need is to locate a good institution and find out what is required to enroll. As you study, you can perfect your skills through voluntary work.
Website content
Forensic Nursing – The New and Exciting Career Option
Erik R Johnson asked:
With the continuing rise in crime rates, forensic nursing is becoming a popular part of the American judicial system and one of the booming career options. This new form of nursing is one of the newest forms of forensic sciences recognized by the American Nurses Association. The most interesting facet of this new nursing field is it combines the health care profession with the judicial system. Adding to this, forensic nurses may provide care to victims of violent crime, perform crime scene investigations or may even work as detectives in a clinical setting to assist police catch and condemn perpetrators.
The most important duty in forensic nursing is assisting in the physical and emotional recovery of patients while protecting their rights. A forensic nurse also works in collecting and documenting facts while treating patients. A forensic nurse may serve as legal nurse consultant or attorney.
Today forensic nursing is gaining recognition in the U.S court system as one of the reliable sources of proof, which in-turn leads to higher conviction rates and fewer crime scene errors. It even offers immense opportunities for recent nursing graduates and experienced Registered Nurses, who are looking for a career change. In fact, an individual working as a forensic nurse may practice in many diverse fields. Here are some of the specialties that one may choose to pursue in forensic nursing:
Correctional nursing Sexual assault nursing Nurse coroner/death investigation Legal nurse consulting Gerontology specialization
Besides this, the employers of forensic nursing specialists also differ. They include acute healthcare facilities, correctional institutions, insurance companies and psychiatric facilities. Definitely this new form of nursing can be considered as one of multitalented professions available in current scenario.
Today there are many nursing schools in the United States that train students to perform their responsibilities as a forensic nurse effectively. These schools prepare students to confront extreme human behavior as the profession demands, maintain their cool under pressure and comfort victims while gathering and handling proofs.
In terms of salary, the starting wage for a forensic nurse can start from $26 per hour with the probable to earn as much as $100 per hour, depending on the state and specialty. In addition to this, at times the salaries also vary depending on the forensic nurse’s educational level, the job’s location and the duties performed. In addition to this, many private hospitals in the United States are offering a higher salary for forensic nurses. Those nurses who work independently as a private consultant for law enforcement agencies or insurance companies can also receive better incomes.
As a new nursing field, no doubt forensic nursing is a promising nursing career option that can provide very strict guidelines yet rewarding service. In next few years, the job opportunities are going to increase as not all hospitals have forensic nurses. Forensic nurses that join a hospital are usually on-call or work part-time since full-time positions is limited. Ultimately, the demand for these specialist nurses will surely rise. Today forensic nurse don’t just provides primary care to injured victims of crime but indeed has become more valuable part in the legal system. Certainly, this is a great and right time to step into this evolving profession and become a part of the forensic nursing community.
Caffeinated Content
With the continuing rise in crime rates, forensic nursing is becoming a popular part of the American judicial system and one of the booming career options. This new form of nursing is one of the newest forms of forensic sciences recognized by the American Nurses Association. The most interesting facet of this new nursing field is it combines the health care profession with the judicial system. Adding to this, forensic nurses may provide care to victims of violent crime, perform crime scene investigations or may even work as detectives in a clinical setting to assist police catch and condemn perpetrators.
The most important duty in forensic nursing is assisting in the physical and emotional recovery of patients while protecting their rights. A forensic nurse also works in collecting and documenting facts while treating patients. A forensic nurse may serve as legal nurse consultant or attorney.
Today forensic nursing is gaining recognition in the U.S court system as one of the reliable sources of proof, which in-turn leads to higher conviction rates and fewer crime scene errors. It even offers immense opportunities for recent nursing graduates and experienced Registered Nurses, who are looking for a career change. In fact, an individual working as a forensic nurse may practice in many diverse fields. Here are some of the specialties that one may choose to pursue in forensic nursing:
Correctional nursing Sexual assault nursing Nurse coroner/death investigation Legal nurse consulting Gerontology specialization
Besides this, the employers of forensic nursing specialists also differ. They include acute healthcare facilities, correctional institutions, insurance companies and psychiatric facilities. Definitely this new form of nursing can be considered as one of multitalented professions available in current scenario.
Today there are many nursing schools in the United States that train students to perform their responsibilities as a forensic nurse effectively. These schools prepare students to confront extreme human behavior as the profession demands, maintain their cool under pressure and comfort victims while gathering and handling proofs.
In terms of salary, the starting wage for a forensic nurse can start from $26 per hour with the probable to earn as much as $100 per hour, depending on the state and specialty. In addition to this, at times the salaries also vary depending on the forensic nurse’s educational level, the job’s location and the duties performed. In addition to this, many private hospitals in the United States are offering a higher salary for forensic nurses. Those nurses who work independently as a private consultant for law enforcement agencies or insurance companies can also receive better incomes.
As a new nursing field, no doubt forensic nursing is a promising nursing career option that can provide very strict guidelines yet rewarding service. In next few years, the job opportunities are going to increase as not all hospitals have forensic nurses. Forensic nurses that join a hospital are usually on-call or work part-time since full-time positions is limited. Ultimately, the demand for these specialist nurses will surely rise. Today forensic nurse don’t just provides primary care to injured victims of crime but indeed has become more valuable part in the legal system. Certainly, this is a great and right time to step into this evolving profession and become a part of the forensic nursing community.
Caffeinated Content
Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs In New York
Sarah Freeland asked:
As a licensed practical nurse, you have put in your time and gotten a good education in hopes of finding a great job. Now you are ready to enter the workforce. If you are looking for licensed practical nurse jobs in New York, then you are in luck. LPN’s are widely needed in the state and city of New York. A great career awaits you.
In order to get a licensed practical nurse job in New York, you will need LPN training. The education required of an LPN is 18 months to two years of education in anatomy, physiology, medications and practical patient care. Trying to decide if an LPN education is worth it? Consider these stats: the average salary for a licensed practical nurse in New York is $49,000 per year. Also, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are about 700,000 LPN’s employed in the United States. That means there is a lot of money being made in the licensed practical nurse field today. With the proper education, you can get your hands on some of it!
Licensed practical nurse jobs in New York are plentiful if you know where to look. One of the best ways to find one of these positions is the old-fashioned way-in the newspaper. There is a high demand right now for LPN’s and you should be able to easily find many positions available in any help wanted section. But if you would like a more specific LPN job in New York, or if searching through the newspaper simply isn’t for you, then you should consider trying more up-to-date methods.
One of these more advanced ways of finding licensed practical nurse jobs in New York is to look on the internet. Help wanted websites are a great way to go. You can also look on a site called craigslist.org. This website is a non-profit networking site where thousands of jobs are posted each day in every job market. If you already know what hospital or medical facility you are interested in working for, you should go directly to the organization’s website. Most companies these days are listing job openings on their website and some will even allow you to apply for a job via the internet in the comfort of your own home!
Create a video blog…instantly.
As a licensed practical nurse, you have put in your time and gotten a good education in hopes of finding a great job. Now you are ready to enter the workforce. If you are looking for licensed practical nurse jobs in New York, then you are in luck. LPN’s are widely needed in the state and city of New York. A great career awaits you.
In order to get a licensed practical nurse job in New York, you will need LPN training. The education required of an LPN is 18 months to two years of education in anatomy, physiology, medications and practical patient care. Trying to decide if an LPN education is worth it? Consider these stats: the average salary for a licensed practical nurse in New York is $49,000 per year. Also, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are about 700,000 LPN’s employed in the United States. That means there is a lot of money being made in the licensed practical nurse field today. With the proper education, you can get your hands on some of it!
Licensed practical nurse jobs in New York are plentiful if you know where to look. One of the best ways to find one of these positions is the old-fashioned way-in the newspaper. There is a high demand right now for LPN’s and you should be able to easily find many positions available in any help wanted section. But if you would like a more specific LPN job in New York, or if searching through the newspaper simply isn’t for you, then you should consider trying more up-to-date methods.
One of these more advanced ways of finding licensed practical nurse jobs in New York is to look on the internet. Help wanted websites are a great way to go. You can also look on a site called craigslist.org. This website is a non-profit networking site where thousands of jobs are posted each day in every job market. If you already know what hospital or medical facility you are interested in working for, you should go directly to the organization’s website. Most companies these days are listing job openings on their website and some will even allow you to apply for a job via the internet in the comfort of your own home!
Create a video blog…instantly.
Why Do You Need Legal Nurse Consulting? They Can Win Your Case
Gust Lenglet asked:
Imagine that a client comes to you with a medical lawsuit to bring against a hospital. You listen to the case and think to yourself if this is true, then this will be one of the easiest cases in the world to win – the client was most obviously the victim of careless medical care. So, you figure that you’ll analyze the client’s medical records to get the proof that you need. But, you open up the medical record and then you realize one important, tiny little detail that you had previously forgot: you have no idea what any of it means.
This is when your law firm needs legal nurse consulting. Legal nurses help close cases by interpreting valuable medical information while acting as a legal assistant. They can interview plaintiffs and defendants, write up reports, and testify as expert witnesses in a courtroom setting. These types of nurses also understand the “business” side of medical delivery. Indeed, legal nurses are absolutely vital to any law firm that’s serious about winning their cases.
Consider the following example case. An elderly nursing home has a resident with many symptoms, including dementia, diabetes, CRF, and so on. This resident is, naturally, completely dependent on the nursing home to care for them. One day, a nursing assistant found a bruise on the patient and let the nurse know about it. Later that same day, the elderly resident passed away. The autopsy confirmed that the resident had fallen within a few hours of the elderly person’s death. When the family sued, a legal nurse who was called in to review the medical records cited a lack of any documentation regarding the bruise or fall. Both the home and the nurses were convicted of tampering with medical records and wrongful death. Due to the victory, aided in no small part by the legal nurse, the administrators are now serving 10-year jail sentences.
While it may be clear that legal nurse consulting is very beneficial to your law firm, many owners are concerned about the cost. Good legal nurses have been known to charge up to $150 an hour for their work. However, many are also willing to work in-staff for less than six figures. As such, if you’re a firm that has any thoughts of dealing with medical suits, you can’t afford to not dole out much of these responsibilities to a good legal nurse.
It’s also imperative that you hire/retain a good legal nurse. The designation of LNCC (Legal Nurse Consultant Certified) demonstrates that the candidate has at least five years of registered nursing experience, plus at least 2000 hours of legal nursing experience, and has passed a comprehensive exam that directly assesses many of the duties that legal nurse consulting entails. In addition, like many other professional certifications, this has to be renewed every five years, so you know that anyone holding a LNCC has more than adequate legal nurse consulting expertise. Indeed, while it is possible to take people who are just registered nurses and use them in a legal capacity, it’s much better to look for the LNCC designation. That way you know you are getting someone who has had a lot experience in both the medical setting and the legal one.
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Imagine that a client comes to you with a medical lawsuit to bring against a hospital. You listen to the case and think to yourself if this is true, then this will be one of the easiest cases in the world to win – the client was most obviously the victim of careless medical care. So, you figure that you’ll analyze the client’s medical records to get the proof that you need. But, you open up the medical record and then you realize one important, tiny little detail that you had previously forgot: you have no idea what any of it means.
This is when your law firm needs legal nurse consulting. Legal nurses help close cases by interpreting valuable medical information while acting as a legal assistant. They can interview plaintiffs and defendants, write up reports, and testify as expert witnesses in a courtroom setting. These types of nurses also understand the “business” side of medical delivery. Indeed, legal nurses are absolutely vital to any law firm that’s serious about winning their cases.
Consider the following example case. An elderly nursing home has a resident with many symptoms, including dementia, diabetes, CRF, and so on. This resident is, naturally, completely dependent on the nursing home to care for them. One day, a nursing assistant found a bruise on the patient and let the nurse know about it. Later that same day, the elderly resident passed away. The autopsy confirmed that the resident had fallen within a few hours of the elderly person’s death. When the family sued, a legal nurse who was called in to review the medical records cited a lack of any documentation regarding the bruise or fall. Both the home and the nurses were convicted of tampering with medical records and wrongful death. Due to the victory, aided in no small part by the legal nurse, the administrators are now serving 10-year jail sentences.
While it may be clear that legal nurse consulting is very beneficial to your law firm, many owners are concerned about the cost. Good legal nurses have been known to charge up to $150 an hour for their work. However, many are also willing to work in-staff for less than six figures. As such, if you’re a firm that has any thoughts of dealing with medical suits, you can’t afford to not dole out much of these responsibilities to a good legal nurse.
It’s also imperative that you hire/retain a good legal nurse. The designation of LNCC (Legal Nurse Consultant Certified) demonstrates that the candidate has at least five years of registered nursing experience, plus at least 2000 hours of legal nursing experience, and has passed a comprehensive exam that directly assesses many of the duties that legal nurse consulting entails. In addition, like many other professional certifications, this has to be renewed every five years, so you know that anyone holding a LNCC has more than adequate legal nurse consulting expertise. Indeed, while it is possible to take people who are just registered nurses and use them in a legal capacity, it’s much better to look for the LNCC designation. That way you know you are getting someone who has had a lot experience in both the medical setting and the legal one.
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Legal Nurse Consultant
Melissa Steele asked:
Nurses with an interest for both emergency room trauma and courtroom drama may want to pursue a nursing degree in legal nurse consulting. Legal nurse consultants use their healthcare know-how in conjunction with an interest in the legal system to have a rewarding career in this combined profession.
Legal nurse consultants are commonly called by defense attorneys and prosecutors for their forensic or pharmacological familiarity to help determine difficult criminal or civil cases. More commonly, legal nurse consultants consult with attorneys and others in the legal field on medical malpractice, personal injury, workers’ compensation and other healthcare-related cases. These legal specialists are responsible for interviewing clients, reviews medical records, researches and summarizes medical literature, helps evaluate liabilities and damages, assists with depositions, prepares exhibits, and identifies and retains expert witnesses.
Legal nurse consultants are registered nurses who have previously worked in emergency rooms, or in other disciplines, who then take on focused training at legal nurse consulting schools. These schools offer on-campus or online nursing degree coursework in legal ethics, personal injury cases, forensic science, and legal writing to name a few. There are also dedicated classes in legal issues about medical malpractice, auto accident injury, lower back pain, and product liability.
Certified legal nurse consultants are regularly contracted to work with private attorneys and corporate lawyers. However, many find work outside the courtroom. Some take positions with hospitals, insurance companies, and government agencies. Many are hired to help provide quality assurance at pharmaceutical firms and chemical companies. About half of all legal nurse consultants work on staff at law firms, insurance companies and other institutions, and their salaries are just about the same as those of hospital nursing administrators, who earn about $80,000, according to a 2004 Nursing Management salary survey. The other half of legal nurse consultants work independently and earn $100 to $150 an hour or more,
Jobs in the profession are expected to grow throughout the next 10 years as more and more companies introduce medications and devices that are federally approved, or reviewed in the courtroom or by government agencies. While formal training in legal nurse consulting is not required to practice, training and educational programs are available at universities, community colleges, and other private and public institutions.
Create a video blog…instantly.
Nurses with an interest for both emergency room trauma and courtroom drama may want to pursue a nursing degree in legal nurse consulting. Legal nurse consultants use their healthcare know-how in conjunction with an interest in the legal system to have a rewarding career in this combined profession.
Legal nurse consultants are commonly called by defense attorneys and prosecutors for their forensic or pharmacological familiarity to help determine difficult criminal or civil cases. More commonly, legal nurse consultants consult with attorneys and others in the legal field on medical malpractice, personal injury, workers’ compensation and other healthcare-related cases. These legal specialists are responsible for interviewing clients, reviews medical records, researches and summarizes medical literature, helps evaluate liabilities and damages, assists with depositions, prepares exhibits, and identifies and retains expert witnesses.
Legal nurse consultants are registered nurses who have previously worked in emergency rooms, or in other disciplines, who then take on focused training at legal nurse consulting schools. These schools offer on-campus or online nursing degree coursework in legal ethics, personal injury cases, forensic science, and legal writing to name a few. There are also dedicated classes in legal issues about medical malpractice, auto accident injury, lower back pain, and product liability.
Certified legal nurse consultants are regularly contracted to work with private attorneys and corporate lawyers. However, many find work outside the courtroom. Some take positions with hospitals, insurance companies, and government agencies. Many are hired to help provide quality assurance at pharmaceutical firms and chemical companies. About half of all legal nurse consultants work on staff at law firms, insurance companies and other institutions, and their salaries are just about the same as those of hospital nursing administrators, who earn about $80,000, according to a 2004 Nursing Management salary survey. The other half of legal nurse consultants work independently and earn $100 to $150 an hour or more,
Jobs in the profession are expected to grow throughout the next 10 years as more and more companies introduce medications and devices that are federally approved, or reviewed in the courtroom or by government agencies. While formal training in legal nurse consulting is not required to practice, training and educational programs are available at universities, community colleges, and other private and public institutions.
Create a video blog…instantly.
Nursing Management Jobs
Jack Cardell asked:
Nursing management jobs involve coordinating the services that patients get. A nurse manager works closely with nurses and physicians to come up with efficient patient care plans. This type of manager is also in charge of supervising and evaluating employees and consults patients and their family members during their stay in hospital. They are responsible for taking care of the paperwork required to come up with departmental budget and disciplinary actions against employees.
To get nursing management jobs, an individual needs to be a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In some cases, the job requires a Master’s degree. The level of experience in the health care industry is also a factor when determining the best candidate for the position.
Nursing managers are also put in charge of staffing in health care facilities. They take care of the operations in various departments including emergency room, radiology and intensive care. The manager assigns nurses to each department and coordinates the activities of the nursing staff according to the needs of the patient.
A nurse manager is expected to have up to date knowledge on the various nursing practices. If the nursing staff require additional training, the manager is expected to conduct it. Nurses are expected to follow nursing ethics when dealing with patients and a manager is supposed to ensure that the conduct of the staff is ethical, legal and safe.
If there are new equipments and products that are required in a health care facility, a nurse manager is expected to evaluate them before they are purchased. Nursing management jobs are very demanding an individual who takes up this position is expected to go for meetings with other managers from different departments in the health care facility to share ideas and information and find solutions for the problems they are facing.
legal nurse consulting
Nursing management jobs involve coordinating the services that patients get. A nurse manager works closely with nurses and physicians to come up with efficient patient care plans. This type of manager is also in charge of supervising and evaluating employees and consults patients and their family members during their stay in hospital. They are responsible for taking care of the paperwork required to come up with departmental budget and disciplinary actions against employees.
To get nursing management jobs, an individual needs to be a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In some cases, the job requires a Master’s degree. The level of experience in the health care industry is also a factor when determining the best candidate for the position.
Nursing managers are also put in charge of staffing in health care facilities. They take care of the operations in various departments including emergency room, radiology and intensive care. The manager assigns nurses to each department and coordinates the activities of the nursing staff according to the needs of the patient.
A nurse manager is expected to have up to date knowledge on the various nursing practices. If the nursing staff require additional training, the manager is expected to conduct it. Nurses are expected to follow nursing ethics when dealing with patients and a manager is supposed to ensure that the conduct of the staff is ethical, legal and safe.
If there are new equipments and products that are required in a health care facility, a nurse manager is expected to evaluate them before they are purchased. Nursing management jobs are very demanding an individual who takes up this position is expected to go for meetings with other managers from different departments in the health care facility to share ideas and information and find solutions for the problems they are facing.
legal nurse consulting
Legal Nurse Consultant Jobs in California – What’s it Pay, What’s it Take?
Rita Henry asked:
Nurses have always had the qualities of compassion, responsibility and professionalism. The branch of nursing known as legal nurse consulting lets nurses use these skills to help patients in a legal setting. A legal nurse consultant (LNC) has a hybrid skill set that uses medical knowledge in combination with legal training.
Legal Nurse Consultants are sometimes called as expert witnesses at medical malpractice and personal injury trials, but most often they work behind the scenes as part of an attorney’s legal support team. Besides attorneys, LNCs provide medical expertise for private corporations, hospitals, government agencies and insurance companies.
Legal Nurse Consultants perform a wide range of services, consisting of:
- Locate expert witnesses
- Review medical records
- Interpret medical records and prepare reports on the injury or illness being litigated
- Assist with the legal process known as discovery
- Conduct research
- Identify standards of care
The range of clients for whom an LNC performs these services including:
- Attorneys (plaintiff and defense)
- Insurance companies
- Healthcare facilities like hospitals and clinics
- Other LNCs and medical-legal consultants (plaintiff and defense)
- Government agencies
- Private corporations
LNCs are particularly valuable in a corporate or government setting because they can help develop strategies to improve quality assurance, identify and manage risk and control exposure to loss.
Like an attorney, a LNC charges on a per-hour fee basis. In California, according to a 2006 report, nurses earn a median hourly rate of $31.88. LNCs, because of their specialized skill set, can expect to earn a higher rate, sometimes as much as $100.00 to $150.00 per hour. The California Employment Development’s Labor Market Information Division projects an estimated growth for nursing careers of 28.5% in the ten-year period 1998 to 2008.
Unfortunately, salary statistics are only part of the picture for Legal Nurse Consultants in California. The cost of living in California is prohibitively high. With apartment rents as high as $3,200 per month and prices for single family homes quoted at over $800,000, this state ranks among the top most expensive places to live in the United States. An index known as the “housing wage” is $22.86 per hour in California. This index measures how much a person needs to earn per hour to afford a mortgage and utilities. This index does not take into consideration other essentials like transportation, taxes and groceries. So even though the salary outlook for LNCs in California is positive, the cost of living is so prohibitive that most LNCs would find themselves struggling to make ends meet.
Website content
Nurses have always had the qualities of compassion, responsibility and professionalism. The branch of nursing known as legal nurse consulting lets nurses use these skills to help patients in a legal setting. A legal nurse consultant (LNC) has a hybrid skill set that uses medical knowledge in combination with legal training.
Legal Nurse Consultants are sometimes called as expert witnesses at medical malpractice and personal injury trials, but most often they work behind the scenes as part of an attorney’s legal support team. Besides attorneys, LNCs provide medical expertise for private corporations, hospitals, government agencies and insurance companies.
Legal Nurse Consultants perform a wide range of services, consisting of:
- Locate expert witnesses
- Review medical records
- Interpret medical records and prepare reports on the injury or illness being litigated
- Assist with the legal process known as discovery
- Conduct research
- Identify standards of care
The range of clients for whom an LNC performs these services including:
- Attorneys (plaintiff and defense)
- Insurance companies
- Healthcare facilities like hospitals and clinics
- Other LNCs and medical-legal consultants (plaintiff and defense)
- Government agencies
- Private corporations
LNCs are particularly valuable in a corporate or government setting because they can help develop strategies to improve quality assurance, identify and manage risk and control exposure to loss.
Like an attorney, a LNC charges on a per-hour fee basis. In California, according to a 2006 report, nurses earn a median hourly rate of $31.88. LNCs, because of their specialized skill set, can expect to earn a higher rate, sometimes as much as $100.00 to $150.00 per hour. The California Employment Development’s Labor Market Information Division projects an estimated growth for nursing careers of 28.5% in the ten-year period 1998 to 2008.
Unfortunately, salary statistics are only part of the picture for Legal Nurse Consultants in California. The cost of living in California is prohibitively high. With apartment rents as high as $3,200 per month and prices for single family homes quoted at over $800,000, this state ranks among the top most expensive places to live in the United States. An index known as the “housing wage” is $22.86 per hour in California. This index measures how much a person needs to earn per hour to afford a mortgage and utilities. This index does not take into consideration other essentials like transportation, taxes and groceries. So even though the salary outlook for LNCs in California is positive, the cost of living is so prohibitive that most LNCs would find themselves struggling to make ends meet.
Website content