Legal Nurse Career in Brief
Legal nurses' unique roles include analysts, collaborators, educators, researchers, and strategists. They function as consultants at the crossroads of healthcare and law, offering expertise in nursing, medicine, and healthcare systems.
Key Skills and Responsibilities
- Participating in client interviews
- Reviewing medical records and documentation
- Conducting literature searches and research
- Identifying standards of care
- Drafting medical legal documents
- Providing expert court testimony
- Assembling evidence for trial
- Preparing care cost estimates
- Assisting with depositions
Skills Learned
- Organizational
- Critical Thinking
- Communication Skills
- Knowledge of Legal Terminology
Where Do Legal Nurses Work?
Legal nurses work with attorneys, claims adjusters, medical staff, and patients. These nurses find employment in law firms, insurance companies, healthcare facilities, patient safety organizations, and corporate legal departments.
The list below outlines common work settings and responsibilities.
Law Firms Legal nurses working in law firms conduct client interviews, review standards of care, summarize medical records, and provide expert testimony.
Insurance Companies With insurance companies, these nurses analyze healthcare benefits, audit medical bills, and perform case management.
Healthcare Facilities Legal nurses in healthcare facilities collaborate with team members, investigate malpractice claims, educate staff, and ensure law and regulation compliance.
What Is the Difference Between a Legal Nurse Consultant and a Nurse Attorney?
Nurses interested in healthcare law can consider careers as nurse attorneys. However, becoming a nurse attorney requires a law degree and admission to a state bar association. While legal nurse consultants provide assistance and expertise in legal cases, nurse attorneys are lawyers themselves.
The following table lists a few differences between legal nurse consultants and nurse attorneys.
Legal Nurse Consultant
Nurse Attorney
How To Become a Legal Nurse Consultant
How Much Do Legal Nurses Make?
According to PayScale, the average legal nurse consultant salary totals $90,762, not including bonuses, profit-sharing, or benefits. RNs earn a median average salary of $93,600. Legal nurse consultant job listings on Indeed include positions paying more than $80,000 for legal nurse consultants with three years of experience.
PayScale indicates that salaries begin to climb at around 10 years of working in the field. Legal nurses in Atlanta, New York, and Orlando earn more than the national average.
Resources for Legal Nurses
Frequently Asked Questions About Legal Nurses
