If you enjoy solving medical problems, researching and analyzing information, and collaborating with others, a nurse`s advice may be for you. Read on to learn more about the salary, job description and educational requirements required to become a CNL. To obtain a nursing license, graduates of nursing schools must pass the NCLEX exam and submit all required materials to the nursing board of the state where they will practice. Nurses should expect to undergo fingerprint and background checks in addition to sharing clinical and educational records. Licences must be maintained through regular training and generally renewed every two years. A licence in good standing is a legal requirement to act as a nurse in a clinical setting. The Louisiana State University New Orleans Legal Practice course is fully online and self-paced, meaning nurses can complete the course as quickly or slowly as they want. The 10-module course also counts as 100 CNE credits that nurses earn at the end of the course. At the end of the modules, nurses also receive a certificate of completion. Students also have the opportunity to complete a two-day preceptory, an active legal counsel show in New Orleans, Louisiana. The combination of price, exposure, flexibility, and CNE capabilities makes it a great option.
The AALNC adds a detailed breakdown of professional responsibilities in this interdisciplinary career. Overall, nurse legal advisors are health professionals who work as part of a legal team, often acting as medical experts and assisting lawyers and other professionals. They interpret patient diagrams and diagnoses; Analysis of relevant medical information; Preparation of chronological case histories and medical discussions for legal documents; assist in assessing damage; assessing an applicant`s medical needs and costs; interview clients and help identify experts; provide consulting services; and even testify in court. CNL works in a variety of strategic roles, dealing with litigation issues such as workers` compensation, risk management, civil liberties, personal injury, medico-legal and criminal matters, medical malpractice and workplace discrimination, to name a few. It`s worth evaluating your salary as a registered nurse. Watch the video above to learn more about the salary of the legal nurse consultant. Finally, some CNLs work full-time in their legal advisory roles, while others may do more traditional care jobs while earning additional income at the same time, providing CNL services on an hourly or part-time basis. It`s important to carefully research care options in your area to find out details about job openings and salary potential. If you`re considering opening a private practice, consider the business opportunities in your geographic area, the number of hours you plan to work, and the percentage of time you spend on non-billable activities such as marketing, billing, and other non-revenue-generating activities. To advance their careers, registered nurses often consider spending years earning additional degrees.
However, according to a U.S. article. News & World Report, the significant investment in postgraduate education, sometimes close to $60,000 per year, often does not result in a significant increase in RNs` salary and career growth due to organizational factors in hospitals as well as their geographic location. Although not mandatory, certification as a legal nurse consultant is recommended. The official certification shows that the nurse is committed to the field and adheres to the highest standards of care and professionalism. Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) courses are offered through an online study and prepare students for the LNCC exam. Eligibility to take the exam requires the following at the time of application: The University of Georgia Legal Nurse Consultant training is available to registered nurses and PAs and prepares students to take and pass the certified exam as a legal nurse consultant. The program uses bi-monthly start dates with six start date options throughout the year, and students complete their courses online. The program lasts 42 hours and counts for 4.2 credits of training. This fast and affordable program takes much less time than the other options on this list. Those seeking a career in legal nursing counseling should have experience in the medical field and knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology and current standards of care for various disease processes.
They should also value the defence of patients` rights. Interest and knowledge in the field of law is encouraged. There are two types of official recognition for a legal nurse consultant to consider: nursing licensure and specialty certification. While the BLS did not have specific data on nurse counselors, PayScale, a website that relies on self-reported salaries, offered a breakdown of their CNL respondents. PayScale (2020) found that its CNLs earned an average annual salary of $77,944 ($49.58/hour), slightly higher than the BLS average salary for RNs. In addition, PayScale found the following salary percentiles among its 207 CNL respondents: In summary, the professional qualifications and responsibilities of nurse legal consultants vary, and potential CNL is advised to approach educational programs or industries of interest to see what they can offer. The median annual salary for registered nurses was $75,330 per year in May 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS does not disclose salaries for legal nurse consultants, but Payscale reports that their average annual salary in 2020 is $77,773, or $49.47 per hour. What exactly does a nurse legal consultant do on a day-to-day basis? And beyond that, does it vary by industry or workplace? Although not mandatory, CNL wishing to demonstrate its commitment to the profession and best practices in nursing consulting can obtain CNL certification from the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC).
With one of the most affordable certification programs for nurse consultants, Florida Atlantic University attracts nurses from all over the country. The online program requires an active registered nurse license and three years of clinical nursing experience, so only experienced nurses can apply. This eight-week program also has 33 continuing education credits and prepares nurses for the certified exam as a legal nurse consultant. The cost alone makes it a good option, both for the certificate and for continuing education credits. One experienced CNL noted that in the past, the counselling rate for a CNL was considered three to four times higher than the “typical” care wage in the same location, but with increasing care wages, a more accurate estimate may be double the local hourly rate of care.1 Overall, The salary of the statutory care consultant continues to increase by 2 to 5% per year, from the salaries of registered nurse hospitals due to increasing burdens in the health system. The Washington Online Learning Institute, a fully online educational institution, offers two legal nurse consultant pathways: a four-month legal nurse consultant option or a seven-month senior legal nurse consultant option. Most registered nurses choose the four-month pathway because this certificate prepares nurses to become legal nurses in all 50 states. Although WOLI is the least recognizable institution on this list, the incredibly low cost of this program makes it a great option for many registered nurses. Certification in this area shows that you have achieved a level of proficiency measured by a national exam and opens the door to other opportunities. Nurse legal consultants can look forward to an ever-changing career as trends in medical and legal practice continue to evolve.
The institute`s survey found that consultants charge different fees for different law firms, with an average of 10 to 15 percent deducted for law firms that hire them for large volumes of cases. The majority of legal advisors report a fee increase of 2-5% per year. Consulting nurse lawyers have niche careers and, as a result, traditional data sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) do not provide analysis of projected employment growth in this area. That said, CNL generally becomes registered nurses prior to legal training. In addition, they must be registered nurses to be eligible for voluntary professional certification from the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC), discussed below. If your goal is to see a legal nurse, you must first become a registered nurse. To do this, you need to follow these steps: Designed for anyone with an active registered nurse license, Duke University`s legal nurse consulting program prepares nurses to apply their skills in the legal field. This comprehensive online program consists of six modules completed over one month. Nurses complete the modules synchronously, that is, simultaneously, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. While courses cannot transfer to a graduate program or credit toward continuing education, it`s hard to find a better institution for health care training than Duke. Like other programs, this option is fully online and offers six different launch dates throughout the year. The course lasts about 42 hours. While the cost is higher than similar options, students can take advantage of Arizona`s extensive network. Many nurses are attracted to the benefits of a legal nursing consultant.