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