The demand for legal nursing consultants will continue to grow in the coming years as the health care system increases its reliance on experts with vast knowledge about medical-legal issues and proceedings. A career as a legal nurse consultant is rapidly becoming one of the most lucrative jobs in the country with an average salary of $120 per hour of consultation, generating an average annual income of approximately $80,000.
Many nurses are seriously considering a career as legal nurse consultant because it gives them the opportunity to practice their profession in an entirely different setting. A career as a legal nursing consultant is perfect for registered nurses who want to venture into other nursing specialties apart from bedside care. Legal nurse consultants are given the chance to work in legal corporations, government agencies, and insurance companies. Some legal nurse consultants have the option to be self-employed consultants while they continue to work in bedside care settings.
To become a legal nurse consultant, a nurse must first be a current licensed registered nurse in the state or country. Prospective students who are interested in becoming a registered nurse must complete all nursing prerequisites with satisfactory grades to be considered for admission in the nursing program. Registered nursing programs offer associate degrees (ADN or ASN) that are usually completed in two years. An associate degree in nursing can be obtained in community and junior colleges and in technical-vocational schools. A bachelor degree (BSN) in nursing is conferred to students who completed 4 years of nursing education in universities or in 4-year colleges. ADN and BSN graduates of schools accredited by the Nursing League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. are all eligible to sit in the state registered nursing licensure examination.
To practice as a consultant, the experienced registered nurse does not necessarily need a certification. However, as the responsibilities of legal nurse consultants in legal and hospital settings become more intense, the majority of employers prefer certified consultants. Certification increases the chances of better job opportunities, career advances, and higher salary wages. A certification demonstrates the nurse's comprehensive knowledge on medical-legal proceedings and the health care system.
Current registered and licensed nurses are deemed qualified to practice legal nursing consultation if one of the following requirements is fulfilled:
a. Successful completion of a legal nursing consultant program in an accredited educational institution. The legal nursing consultant program must have a minimum of 90 days of formal lecture.
b. Certification will be granted to individuals who are currently practicing as a legal nurse consultant with at least 1,000 hours of work within the last 3 years.
c. Recertification will be granted to individuals if continuing education was completed with 50 hours of coursework within the last 3 years.
Please note that the American Association of League of Nursing Consultants will not grant certification for current certificate holders that are certified by another organization.
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