Learn About Becoming a Legal Nurse Consultant

• Nurse consultants might help attorneys prepare for a deposition, perhaps by familiarizing them with medical or nursing terminology.
   
• LNCs testify as expert witnesses at trial.
   
• Since LNCs have firsthand knowledge and are less expensive than doctors, lawyers will often use them as expert witnesses, so they are in high demand.

Many legal nurse consultants work as independent contractors, while others are employed by law firms, health care organizations and insurance companies. Like paralegals, legal nurse consultants are not licensed as attorneys and may not give legal advice.

In addition to being a registered nurse and having at least three years of nursing experience, you'll need to take a 1-to-2 semester certificate program. Most legal nurse consultant programs cover legal terminology, civil litigation, torts and medical liability, medical records summary and review, and health care risk management.

While certification for legal nurses is optional, it's highly recommended. LNC certification is evidence that you have mastered a complex body of specialized knowledge and will give you a competitive edge in the job market. Certification also bolsters your credibility with attorneys and helps you build a profitable practice more quickly. The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) offers certification through the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board.

Below are the top five states for average registered nurse salaries in 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.