What is Legal Nurse Consulting?
What Makes a Legal Nurse Consultant Distinct?
Where Can I Find a Legal Nurse Consultant?
What Does a Legal Nurse Consultant Do?
Where Does the Legal Nurse Consultant Practice?
What is the Role of the Legal Nurse Consultant?
Why Should You Hire a Legal Nurse Consultant?
What is the LNCC Credential?
What is the American Association for Legal Nurse Consultants?
AALNC Code of Ethics and Conduct
Is the application of knowledge acquired during the course of professional nursing education, training, and clinical experience to the evaluation of standard of care, causation, damages and other medically related issues in medical- legal cases or claims.Is the application of additional knowledge acquired through education and experience regarding applicable legal standards and/or strategy to the evaluation of medical-legal cases or claims. Involves critical analysis of healthcare records and medical literature, as well as relevant legal documents and other information pertinent to the evaluation and resolution of medical-legal cases or claims. Results in the development of case-specific work products and opinions for use by legal professionals or agencies handling medical-legal cases or claims.
As
consultants, legal nurses serve as analysts, collaborators, strategists,
researchers and educators. With theirin-depth knowledge of
nursing, medicine and the healthcare system, their contributions are recognized
in all types of medical-legal cases or claims across all medical-legal
settings. As such, LNCs are uniquely qualified and valuable members of the
legal team.
Where Can I find a Legal Nurse Consultant?
Visit the LNC Locator®
at www.lnclocator.org to
search for a legal nurse consultant by state or specialty area. The LNC Locator® is
a quick and convenient way to locate an LNC or nurse expert witness for your
litigation team.
Participate in client interviews Identify, organize and analyze pertinent medical recordsPrepare a chronology, timeline or other summary of documentation in medical recordsConduct medical literature searches and assist in other researchIdentify applicable standards of care in medical malpractice casesIdentify, screen and facilitate review by expert witnessesEvaluate case strengths and weaknessesDraft or analyze medical portions of legal documentsEvaluate causation and damages issuesEducate attorneys and clients regarding relevant medical issuesIdentify plantiff's future medical needs and associated costs Participate in case management and case strategy discussions Attend independent medical examsServe as a nurse expert witnessPerform cost of care estimates for long term care treatment and catastrophic case management scenariosLocate or prepare demonstrative evidence for trial Assist with preparation for and support during deposition, trial or ADR
As a liaison between the legal and the healthcare communities as well as the consumer, the legal nurse consultant can practice in a variety of settings including:
Law firms
Government AgenciesInsurance companiesHealth Care Facilities Forensic environments
LNC Consulting firms
HMOs
Self-employed independent practicesPatient Safety Organizations Business and Industry Legal Departments
Since the early 80s, legal nurse consultants have acted as
collaborators and strategists, offering support in medically-related litigation
and other medical-legal matters in a variety of practice areas including the
following:
Medical malpracticePersonal injuryLong term care litigation/elder lawProduct liability Toxic tortWorkers' compensationRisk ManagementLife Care PlanningRegulatory compliance Forensic/criminalCivil RightsEmployment discriminationMedicare set-aside
Why Should You Hire a Legal Nurse Consultant?
Knowledge. The
legal nurse consultant has a thorough understanding of anatomy, physiology,
medical treatment and disease processes.
Experience. The
legal nurse consultant has extensive clinical experience, which includes
interpretation of medical records and medical literature.
Resourcefulness.
The legal nurse consultant possesses a network of medical and professional
resources and contacts.
What is the LNCC®
Credential?
Board certification is
available to legal nurse consultants through the Legal Nurse Consultant
Certified (LNCC®) program. Similar to clinical nursing
certification, LNCC® certification demonstrates that the RN has met
experience and education requirements and has passed the certification
examination.
The LNCC® program
is accredited by and meets the rigorous standards of the Accreditation Board
for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC), an accrediting body for specialty
nursing certification programs.
Legal nurse
consultants who have achieved the LNCC® credential have demonstrated
knowledge, experience, and commitment to this nursing specialty.
What is the American Association for Legal Nurse Consultants?
The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC)
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the professional enhancement of
registered nurses practicing in a consulting capacity in the legal field. Founded in 1989, AALNC serves as a resource to its members
and provides a forum for education and the exchange of information. The AALNC
Code of Ethics and Conduct provides guidelines for professional performance and
practice that affirm the values and practices of the American Nurses
Association.
AALNC Code of Ethics and Conduct
Click here to download the AALNC Code of Ethics.
For more information,
contact:
American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
Toll free: 877/402-2562
Web site:
http://www.aalnc.orgEmail:
info@aalnc.orgFind us on Facebook
and LinkedIn!
Copyright © 2003
Revised 2013
By the American
Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
All rights reserved
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