A Career as a Legal Nurse Consultant

If you wish to become a nurse and are interested to work for courtrooms and emergency rooms then pursuing legal nurse programs is the best option for you. Legal nurses utilize their health care knowledge and legal system interest to make a rewarding consulting career. Legal nurse consultants are also known to defense prosecutors or attorneys for their pharmacological or forensic familiarity to assist in determining the difficulty of civil or criminal cases. The legal nurses consult with prosecutors and others in legal field on topics related to personal injury, medical malpractice, workers compensation, etc. They are also responsible for reviewing medical records, interviewing clients, researching and processing medical literature, assisting in evaluating damages and liabilities, preparing exhibits, helping with depositions, and are considered as expert witnesses. A legal nurse consultant often has a previous experience in emergency rooms and other disciplines and who further undergoes training at different legal nursing schools. The schools providing legal nurse programs also offer online degree coursework in personal injury, legal ethics, legal writing and forensic science to name a few. Also, you can also take dedicated classes in the legal issues about auto accident damage, medical malpractice, product liability and lower back pain. A certified legal nurse is constantly hired to work with corporate lawyers and private attorneys. However, many of the legal court consultants are able to locate work outside the courtroom as well. You can also find work in insurance companies, hospitals and the government agencies. Many legal nurse consultants are also contracted to give quality assurance at various chemical companies and pharmaceutical firms. According to the recent salary survey by nursing management, 50% of the legal nurse's work as a staff at insurance companies, law firms and other institutions, and they all earn similar salaries to those working as nursing administrators at the hospitals and make around $8000 a year. The rest 50% work independently and make around $100 to $150 an hour. The jobs for them are predicted to grow in the next 10 years because many companies will introduce devices and medications that have been approved federally or have been reviewed by the governmental agencies and in courtroom. An individual does need formal training in this career to practice, and several educational and training programs are offered by community colleges, universities and various public institutions. It is very easy to start your career in this domain because you don't need a BSN but just require a valid RN license. Also, legal nursing experience is also not required. There are many legal nurses who are practicing in US in both urban and rural areas. Taking up legal nurse consulting as a career will not only provide you a great growth but will also open up new career prospective Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2982971

Become a Legal Nurse Consultant

If you are interested in two particular fields of study, such as law and nursing, have you ever considered the fact that you can merge the two? This is best shown in the career of a legal nurse consultant. Nurses who have a passion for law can use their medical background to assist in legal proceedings. If this type of career peaks your interest, read on to find out more. Legal nurse consultants have the advantage (as well as disadvantage) of merging two different fields of study: law and medicine. As long as you have worked as a registered nurse for at least 5 years, you can choose to become a legal nurse consultant. These types of consultants are able to provide assistance to attorneys by interpreting medical documents and explaining any medical-related issues that pertain to their case. They are also able to provide their services as expert witnesses on the stand, if necessary, so these nurses are very well trained. Being well versed in the field of medicine is absolutely a requirement for this career path. Since lawyers are not usually learned in the field of medicine, they need consultants who know the ins and outs of healthcare, especially when it comes to legal issues regarding medical insurance. As legal nurse consultants have worked as registered nurses for at least 5 years prior to their work for attorneys, they have the knowledge from their schooling and job to show they are capable of being considered the experts. It is important to know that legal nurse consulting does not require a legal education. In this way, legal nurse consulting is very different from the work of paralegals, who are required to study law. Instead of studying law, these nurses will usually attend legal seminars, especially those related to medico-legal information. Salaries for legal nurse consultants are usually paid by the hour, at a rate of anywhere between $100 to $250 an hour. Working in this field can be very lucrative, and although there is much to learn, you would find it difficult to combine law and medicine in a better way. The downfall that many nurses talk about is that there is not much patient interaction in this type of job. If you enjoy being around patients and helping people directly, this kind of job is probably not right for you. There are several other ways to get involved in the legal system, if that is what you want. Working with patients is more of a sidebar when it comes to legal nurse consulting. All in all, there are several different kinds of nursing programs and fields. You can take your time figuring out which is going to be the best fit for you. Reading about nursing profiles may help you make decisions about your future career in nursing. If you are working full time and feel that you could not possibly spare any hours in the day for schooling, consider taking courses through a nursing school online. There are several options for online nursing schools, and you can choose one based on your situation and location. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6959119

The Certified Legal Nurse Consultant - An Attorney's Secret Weapon

The Tragedy Late one Friday afternoon Susan, RN, BSN, CLNC received a call from an insurance defense attorney asking her to review a plaintiff's medical records. On Monday morning, with the deposition just 24 hours away, the attorney sent Susan four volumes of medical records documenting ten years of the plaintiff's medical history. Here are the facts of the case: 1. The defendant had agreed to be the designated driver when she and a group of friends went out partying. 2. On the way home from the second bar the defendant driver, who had not been drinking, hit a tree. 3. Everyone except the plaintiff had on seat belts and walked away from the accident. 4. The unrestrained plaintiff suffered a fractured vertebra that was repaired surgically. 5. He claimed the injuries sustained in the accident totally disabled him and were the sole cause of his weakness, fatigue and inability to work. Certified Legal Nurse Consultant's Analysis Revealed a Very Different Picture Few attorneys know how to read medical records or understand the terminology and subtleties of healthcare issues to achieve the best results for their clients. A Certified Legal Nurse Consultant bridges that gap in the attorney's knowledge. While the attorney is the expert on legal issues, the CLNC® consultant is the expert on nursing, the healthcare system and its inner workings. In this case, the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant's grasp of the plaintiff's pre-existing conditions enabled her to discover that his claims of injury were suspect. His extensive medical file revealed: - He had a long history of HIV and had complained of fatigue on several occasions. - Prior to the accident he was on AZT, Combivir and Bacofen. These medications have numerous side effects, including weakness, fatigue, headaches, dizziness and muscle breakdown. - He had chronic hepatitis, which also contributed to his weakness, fatigue and malaise. - Because of the hepatitis, his treating doctor had documented that the plaintiff was not to drink. Yet his blood alcohol level was significantly elevated when he arrived at the emergency room following the accident. Services Offered By Certified Legal Nurse Consultants That Help Attorneys In addition to reviewing medical records, Certified Legal Nurse Consultants: - Identify applicable standards of care - Develop case chronologies and timelines - Prepare summaries of the extent of injury or illness - Conduct research on various case issues - Locate expert witnesses ...and many other services. In this case, Susan interpreted the records, prepared an in-depth review of the plaintiff's pre-existing conditions, wrote deposition questions, attended the deposition and helped prepare the attorney for mediation. The straightforward questions she proposed came directly from her basic nursing assessment skills. Despite their simplicity, the attorney considered them strokes of genius. During deposition the plaintiff stated that prior to the accident he was fine and had no complaints. Armed with the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant's report, the defense attorney was well prepared to dispute this testimony. He used her questions to draw out inconsistencies in the plaintiff's story: 1. Describe the onset, location, duration and severity of your pain. 2. When did these symptoms start? 3. Did you have any of these problems before the accident? Certified Legal Nurse Consultant Saved Defendant Millions of Dollars on Settlement Mediation was set for the next day. The plaintiff attorney stated that his client was severely injured during this accident and the defendant was responsible. He demanded $5,000,000 from the defendant above the $500,000 policy limits. In response, the defense attorney clearly related the plaintiff's ongoing complaints to his long history of HIV and hepatitis, the side effects of his medications and his noncompliance with his physician's orders. As Susan had discovered, these facts had been documented in the medical record long before the accident, and his complaints were therefore not solely the result of the accident. At this point the plaintiff attorney blurted out, "This case has been in my office for two years, and this is the first time I've heard this information." He obviously had not used the services of a Certified Legal Nurse consultant. The case settled for $10,000, a pittance compared to the initial $5,000,000 demand. "It was extremely satisfying," Susan commented, "knowing my nursing expertise helped the defendant save millions." The Certified Legal Nurse Consultant Is a Specialized Member of the Litigation Team As in this case, a Certified Legal Nurse consultant's professional contributions are often critical to achieving a fair and just outcome for all parties. They have consulted on cases as simple as a neck injury caused by an auto accident, as high-profile as the Rodney King case and as groundbreaking as Fen-Phen, Vioxx, silicone implants and toxic mold litigation. Attorneys rely on Certified Legal Nurse Consultants for a variety of medical-related cases including medical malpractice, personal injury, products liability, toxic tort, workers' compensation and criminal. Susan lives in a rural area and works from home with attorneys from several states. Certified Legal Nurse Consultants practice all over the U.S. Wherever there are attorneys, CLNC® services are needed. According to the American Bar Association, 1,116,967 attorneys are in practice today. Approximately 25 percent of these attorneys deal with medical malpractice and personal injury cases and could use a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant as their secret weapon. Additionally, Certified Legal Nurse Consultants provide healthcare expertise for insurance companies, utilization review firms, government agencies, private corporations and hospitals both as staff members and consultants. Certified Legal Nurse Consultants regularly report earning fees of $150 per hour. The legal nurse consulting profession allows nurses many options for establishing a satisfying and profitable part-time or full-time consulting career. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/686010

Attorneys! "Know When to Hire a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant"

The Attorney is the expert on the legal issues and the law governing any case. The Certified Legal Nurse dose not render legal advice. The Attorney serves as the advocate, the person who pleads and urges the cause of another. Education is one of the primary roles a Consultant provides at the earliest onset of the legal case. The sooner the nurse is involved in the case the less time is spent on the case outcome. Attorneys use Consulting services both as defense and plaintiff. Other clients that use a CLNC services include, Insurance companies, Health care Facilities, Governmental agencies, and private corporations. 1. When you get a Medical and Nursing Malpractice Case Nurses excel in cases about negligence and a professional care provider, care provided by a facility or a learning institution. Nurses excel in cases where a decision is made regarding access to health care services. In the process of gaining that access there was a delay in treatment, inappropriate use of utilization review or negligent case management. 2.When you get a General Negligence Case Personal Injury cases that are non-health-care professionals related are considered general negligence. Personal injury cases include, but are not limited to, sports injuries, water accidents, liquor liability, aviation, railroad, auto accidents, sexual assault, or slip and fall cases. 3.When you get a Products Liability Case Products Liability include medical or non medical manufacturers and sellers of a product to someone who purchased it and was themselves injured and or an injured bystander caused by the defective product. 4.When you get a Toxic Tort and Environmental Case Environmental or Toxic Tort cases involving alleged damages and or injuries caused by the release of toxins into the environment, such as oil spills, lead poisoning, asbestos, pesticides and secondary smoke exposure. 5.When you get a Workers' Compensation and Workplace Injury Case Injuries that occur out of and in the course of employment are workplace injuries and exhibit impairment that make them unable to earn the income they made when they became injured in the same job or another job. 6.When you get a Criminal Case Although criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt and the verdict must be unanimous. Some actions can be both criminal and civil. Criminal cases include acts that society has deemed contrary to the public good and is injurious to society, such as homicide, sexual and physical assault, child, spouse and elderly abuse, criminal environmental, Medicare fraud, psychiatric or rape. 7.Whenever an Attorney get a Case Where Health, Illness or Injury is in Issue They are qualified to research topics, answer questions and assist the attorney in developing the medical-related issues of many types of cases. Additional examples of cases a Nurse can assist in are, family law, probate, disability, employee-employer wrongful dismissal, right to die, Medicare/ social security benefit, elder issues, wrongful adoption, insurance issues and including health care professional board disciplinary actions. How Consultant's Impact on the Legal System We uphold standards of care for the health care community by identifying meritorious cases and communicating deviations from recognized standards. The result is improved quality of care. We identify fraudulent and non-meritorious claims and help to keep them out of the system. We help to ensure that the legal system uses scientific, medical and nursing information properly and without distortion, provide a cost effective adjunct to the litigation process. Why? By completing the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant Certification indicates the attainment of specialized knowledge beyond the nursing degree. This process promotes quality within the nursing practice, the nursing profession and the community.We provide assistance with strategies for quality assurance, risk identification and management, evaluation and control of loss exposure. To complete the CLNC Certification the nursing candidate: -Masters a complex body of specialized knowledge while preparing to practice. -Promotes excellence and standardization of the principles and practice of legal nurse consulting, a distinct professional nursing specialty. -Demonstrates to law firms and insurance companies the successful completion of the nationally recognized training program, a division of Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. -Gains a competitive edge over other consultants with a demonstrated level of proficiency in the field of Legal Nurse Consulting and a commitment to continuing education. -Becomes a member of the largest legal nurse consulting association, the National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants (NACLNC). What is Certification? The Certification process is administered by The Vickie Milazzo Institute, http://www.legalnurse.com/. The official certification of the National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants (NACLNC) and the Certification were implemented in 1994. Successful consultants nationwide had input into this implementation. There are well over 7,000 National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants nationwide. This Certification is designed for registered nurses seeking the in-depth knowledge and continuing education necessary to practice in this sophisticated and rapidly changing field. Graduates are a valuable asset Graduates of CLNC® programs have consulted on cases ranging from simple neck injuries caused by auto accidents to high profile cases such as Rodney King and groundbreaking litigations like FenPhen, Vioxx®, silicone implants, toxic mold and more. They are valuable assets to any Attorney faced with the confusing task of understanding and processing legal cases with multiple medical elements, medical language and alteration in health status or injuries with a time line. Understanding who may be responsible in a medical case can be very involved. Understanding Nursing /Medical expertise means having a CLNC® on your "Legal Team." These Graduates can add to an Attorney's insight and understanding of and the scope of practice of multiple players in the medical system. Attorneys gain clarity from the research the analytical fact data gathering skills a nurse brings to the situation. Attorneys gain a well oiled working tool to their specifications and a quality Standard of Practice. They gain insight into deviations from recognized Standards of Practice of health-care delivery system. Attorneys save time, money and efforts, and they gain an improved organization and less frustration. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4346749

What Are Legal Nurse Consultants?

Legal nurse consulting is the evaluation and analysis of facts and the rendering of informed opinions related to the delivery of healthcare services and outcomes. With a strong foundation based on education and experience, the LNC is qualified to assess adherence to standards and guidelines of nursing practice. LNCs can be successfully used in litigation other than medical malpractice, such as personal injury, toxic tort, product liability, criminal, will disputes, and matrimonial cases. The LNC is a licensed registered nurse. He or she performs a critical analysis of clinical and administrative practice, healthcare facts and issues, and their outcomes. Services are provided to the legal profession, healthcare professions, consumers of healthcare and legal services, and others as appropriate. The LNC's services are rooted in his or her expertise as a nurse. The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) has defined legal nurse consulting as a specialty practice of the nursing profession, a position endorsed by the American Nurses Association in 2006. Nurses providing legal nurse consulting can be found as employees in many settings, including in the plaintiff or defense firm, the risk manager's office, federal and state agencies, and the insurance companies. An equal number of LNCs are self-employed (called "independents") and provide services to clients on both sides of the bar. LNCs are not paralegals Some role confusion exists regarding the differences in preparation and functions of a paralegal versus a LNC. By definition, paralegals and legal assistants are qualified by education, training, or work experience to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Some legal education is typically a requirement for paralegals. Paralegals learn about general law, legal research, torts, legal writing, civil litigation, and technical litigation support. A simple explanation is that the paralegal has some education about law, and the LNC is a nurse who has developed expertise in assisting attorneys with medical issues. Although many LNCs have acquired knowledge of the legal system through such experiences as consulting with attorneys and attending seminars, legal education is not a prerequisite for the independent practice of legal nurse consulting. Professional nursing education and healthcare experience make LNCs unique and valuable partners in legal processes. LNCs are not usually nurse paralegals Many attorneys, unfamiliar with the term legal nurse consultant or its abbreviation, LNC, may refer to the nurse as a "nurse paralegal". Unless the nurse has taken a paralegal program, this term is incorrect. The correct use of the term refers to a nurse paralegal is a paralegal who is also a nurse. In contrast, a legal nurse consultant is a registered nurse who consults on healthcare issues within the legal arena. Confusion about roles arises also because in some settings legal nurse consultants perform some of the same work that legal assistants and paralegals do, particularly in small law offices. While LNCs may acquire knowledge about legal documents, such as complaints, interrogatories, requests for production, and the like, most LNCs have no legal training and are not frequently used to draft legal documents. Their focus does not include wills, real estate transactions, and other areas of non-healthcare-related law which is a typical part of paralegal education. These tasks do not make the best use of the legal nurse consultant's skills. Legal education programs offered for nurses by legal assistant or paralegal education programs also cause confusion about roles. To the extent that legal education is provided to nurses by legal assistant or paralegal education programs, it should be considered separate from the education of paralegals and legal assistants because of the differences in their practice in the legal arena. AALNC's position, therefore, is that LNC education should be developed and presented as specialty nursing curricula by nurse educators in partnership with legal educators. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6311168

Law Firm - A General Overview

Seventy five percent of the over one million licensed attorneys in the US work under private practice. Lawyers in private practice work either in a solo practice or in a law firm consisting of two or more attorneys. Lawyers employed by a firm work as either partners or associates. Partners share both the profits and risks, while associates are those who have not yet realized full partnership status. Firms also employ the help of other types of legal ones including clerks, legal secretaries, litigation support, IT personnel, administrators, file clerks, legal nurse consultants and marketing professionals. Practitioners who work in a solo practice often act as a "jack of all trades". These professionals offer legal services in a broad range of areas. This is in contrast to professionals involved with larger practices who typically specialize in one or two designated aspects of the legal system. Some common specialties are: 1. Labor and Employment 2. Appellate 3. Family 4. Taxes 5. Criminal 6. Bankruptcy Billing These professionals are given the task of tracking each and every minute of their time in order to bill the client. Practices often impose large monthly and yearly billable hour requirements on their partners, paralegals, and associates, making law firm employment one of the most stressful and demanding environments in the corporate world. Hours Long hours are often required of employees in order to generate revenue. However, while many attorneys often work 50 to 80 hours per week, not all practices run as such. Each business has their own requirements and culture. Balancing Work and Life In many cases, the demand for time placed on professionals limit their ability to pursue activities outside the office. A recent study composed by the Texas Bar Associate found the 18% would exchange fewer hours for a decrease in compensation, provided treatment and advancement opportunities would not be compromised. Education Lawyers must undergo an extensive line of training to become licensed. While requirements vary by state, the general education includes: 1. Four-year undergraduate degree 2. Three years of law school education 3. Passing of the state bar exam 4. Passing of the ethics exam After completing the process, many individuals begin applying to firms in their area. The career goes from there. As stated above, there are many various positions within the legal field, along with a bundle of specialties to choose from. Although the road to becoming part of a law firm is a long one, many find the rewards far outweigh any downside they can find. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4449057

Defending Your Nursing License

All nurses are required to be licensed by their state licensing board in order to legally practice nursing within the state. Prospective nurses must undergo a rigorous background investigation in order to become licensed and must meet certain standards throughout their licensure in order to keep the privilege of practicing nursing. If at any point a licensed nurse is believed to have violated the standard of care or other license regulations, he or she may face a licensing board review and disciplinary action. Nursing Grounds for Discipline Nursing board license standards can vary from state to state. Some of the common grounds for discipline that may lead to a nursing board investigation include: Chemical dependency Criminal arrests or convictions Fraud Medical malpractice Practicing while a license is pending Professional misconduct Standard of care violations Defending Your Case If you are entering into a nursing board investigation because you have been suspected of violating the standards or regulations set forth by your licensing board, consider consulting with an experienced nursing license defense lawyer as soon as possible. Just as you would never trust your medical treatment to someone without a medical background, don't trust your license defense to anyone without a strong legal background. A good license defense attorney can help to clarify the circumstances of your case and will work diligently to protect your legal rights and interests. He or she will handle all communications with your licensing board and will work to pursue the best possible resolution for your case. You may be eligible to negotiate a case dismissal, reduced disciplinary action, rehabilitation, or other alternatives to losing your license. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5547178

Nursing - A Rapidly Growing Industry

Confused about what career to pursue? Why not take up nursing as a profession? Nursing can be a far more satisfying occupation than it is usually given credit for. Yes folks, contrary to what people might be telling you, nursing does allow you serious amount of monetary rewards and more. Ask any healthcare professional and he will tell you that we have less number of registered nurses than our country actually needs. Given the large number of vacancies for nurses, the salaries offered are quite high and extremely competitive. Every hospital tries to provide high salaries to their nurses in order to ensure that the recruited RN's stay on and do not shift to some other lucrative job. Given the current trends in the healthcare industry, most specialists are of the opinion that this demand for nurses is unlikely to die down any time soon. In the following section we look at some of the very many profitable possibilities open to all those who are looking to make a career in nursing. A forensic nurse works closely with victims of various criminal cases. Be it sexual assault, murder or abuse, a forensic nurse will analyze body evidences and help investigators in uncovering the truth. If you are a tele-soap buff you have probably seen a number of such nurses running around in investigative serials such as CSI. Forensic nursing is meant specifically for those who are looking for an offbeat and interesting occupation and is definitely not cut out for those who want a stable nurse job. Yet another new area that is just beginning to gain popularity is a field called legal nurse consulting. Nurses from this field (also called legal nurse consultants or LNCs) work alongside attorneys handling medical cases. The LNCs guide lawyers regarding medical procedures, according to what exactly goes on in hospitals. This is therefore where a practicing nurses on-the-job knowledge helps him/her. RNs working at hospitals know how things at hospitals work. When they work with attorneys, they share this privileged information with them and help them out. Besides attorneys, a number of insurance companies also employ LNCs. And get this, an experienced LNC can demand anything over and around $150/hr!!! And it isn't just the money that is great, LNCs are also granted as much freedom as any other freelancer. Nurses who are unwilling to stay pinned at a single location can also make good money by becoming what is called a 'travel nurse'. No matter where you are, be it Texas or San Francisco if you want to travel, a nurse's job can help you visit or live in places you have only heard of before. The nurse staffing companies hire RNs for almost every part of the country. So if you are looking to relocate just let them know and they'll take care of all the rest. Travel nurses not only get to choose the exact location where they would like to live, they also get to choose lucrative jobs which pay more than others. Travel nurses thus have the best of both the worlds! Nurses can also work as dental, surgical or pediatric nurses or as a family nurse practitioner, in which case you will have to be dealing with one specific patient and only look after his/her wants. If you are looking to pursue a career in nursing, you will have to take at least a preliminary degree, which will grant you a Licensed Practitioner Nurse. To avail greater lucrative offers however get a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/658627

Vacancies For Nurses - Opportunities Abound for New Nurse Jobs

There are not only a lot of vacancies for nurses but the variety of jobs available continue to increase. Thinking of being a health care professional? How about nursing? This can be a very rewarding job, both in the monetary and mental sense. Nurse salaries remain high, given the shortage of registered nurses in the united States. This article stakes a look at some rewarding possibilities for a nursing career. Do you watch CSI? In each episode you will see nurses at work. There's the forensic nurse who works with victims such as sexual assault cases, and analyses bodily evidence. If you enjoy interesting jobs, then being in forensics will test your nursing skills daily on the job. Definitely not for those who prefer more stable nurse jobs. There's also a hot new area called legal nurse consulting. Yes, like what the name says, it's a nurse who works as a consultant. Legal nurse consultants LNC work with attorneys who handle medical cases such as malpractice lawsuits. Here's where a nurse's professional, on-the- job experience comes in. LNCs advise lawyers on medical procedures and terms, according to what actually happens, example in a hospital. Or insurance companies may hire them to work as in house consultants. Did I say this job is lucrative? Good consultants can demand $150 per hour rates, and you get the freedom that comes with being a freelancer. You can also become a travel nurse. For those who do not want to be stuck in one place or say if you're in Texas and want to live in California, a travel nurse job might just be the ticket for you. Nurse staffing companies are always recruiting registered nurses for positions across the country. They will not only find you a job but also take care of relocation matters such as housing as well as your other benefits. Travel nurses make a good salary. These are three of the "new" nurse jobs. Of course pediatric, dental, surgical nurses in hospitals and private healthcare institutes are great nurse careers to consider. Then there is the family nurse practitioner who works with individuals and family advising on diet, nutrition and health conditions. This is a more personal type of job because you get to know the people you work with. Nurse practitioners function in some ways similar to MDs, and to be a NP requires one to have a Master's degree from an accredited college. The fastest way to become a nurse is to study to become a Licensed Practical Nurse LPN or in some states also called Licensed Vocational Nurse LVN. This course takes only one way to complete. Of course, salaries for LPNs are not as high as nurses with Bachelors of science in Nursing degrees or even higher. I've just touched briefly on some of the newer nursing job opportunities available as well as some of their educational requirements. Given that people are living longer and being more and more conscious of their health, you can be sure they'll be no shortage of vacancies for nurses. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/568682

Legal Nurse Consultant Jobs in New York - How Far Can Your Salary Go?

A legal nurse consultant (LNC) is a registered nurse with specialized training in matters of law. LNCs are invaluable assets to attorneys because LNCs can interpret medical records and provide expert opinions. These expert opinions can be wide-ranging but are only a small part of the array of skills a LNC brings to the legal process. Legal nurse consultants often partner with attorneys in personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Their knowledge helps attorneys build sound cases for their clients. Besides reviewing medical records, LNCs can evaluate and prepare expert witness testimony, conduct medically oriented research and even testify at trial if necessary. While working with attorneys is the mainstay of an LNC's career, private corporations and insurance companies can also seek their services. LNCs also find work as consultants to government entities, both state and local, that are seeking to identify and reduce risk and avoid litigation. Regardless of the setting, LNCs earn highly competitive fees and salaries. One of the most important services provided by LNCs constructing a time line for the case that highlights both medical and legal milestones or issues. A time line identifies critical events in a case, putting them in a structured yet easy-to-understand format for judges, juries and other attorneys. The expertise of LNCs often helps prevent litigation failure and wins positive outcomes for clients and attorneys. The job and salary outlook for LNCs in New York State divides neatly into two geographical areas - New York City metropolitan and nearby suburbs and upstate areas centering on cities like Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse and Binghamton. While LNCs are in demand in all these areas, the salaries can vary substantially. Here are some examples of annual salaries in New York State for LNCs: Albany - 64,000.00 Binghamton - 66,000.00 Buffalo - 58.000.00 New York City - 89,000.00 While the salary in New York City may seem attractive, remember that New York State ranks among the top 10 in highest cost of living, most expensive housing and most expensive cost of food. Property and sales taxes are particularly high. With a median property tax of over $3000.00 per year, New York State's property taxes are the 4th highest in the United States. Wikipedia notes that New York State has a 4% state sales tax and that all counties and some cities add local taxes ranging from 3% to 4.75%. The combined sales tax in Utica, for example, is 8.75%. In New York City, total sales tax is 8.375%. Even Buffalo, an area with a depressed economy, has a sales tax rate of 8.75%. New York State has many recreational opportunities. The Adirondack, Berkshire and Catskill mountains are scenic and dotted with innumerable lakes, streams and rivers. The scenic Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley regions also offer recreational opportunities like hiking, skiing and camping. In the New York City area, you'll find over 18,000 restaurants and 150 museums. Despite all these attractions, the prohibitive tax structure and cost of living make New York State a poor choice for LNCs, whether they are residents or are considering relocation to New York. States like Texas, New Hampshire and Minnesota offer lower costs and are attractive alternatives that LNCs should explore. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1279263

Legal Nurse Consultant Jobs in Texas - A Logical Next Step For an RN?

If you're an experienced RN looking for a career change, why not consider becoming a legal nurse consultant? This exciting and challenging career will allow you to use your well-honed medical skills to help attorneys interpret medical records and other medical information as it relates to lawsuits and other legal matters. A successful legal nurse consultant (LNC) skillfully combines medical and nursing skills with legal knowledge. With concentrated, specialized training in personal injury and medical malpractice law, LNCs are valuable assets to attorneys who need expert opinions cases related to these legal categories. Legal Nurse Consultants can consult on everything from simple personal injury cases, like automobile accidents, to complex and high profile cases involving celebrities, major corporations and well-known products and pharmaceuticals. Legal nurse consulting is a burgeoning field. It's estimated that about 25% of the nearly 1,000,000 attorneys practicing in the United States handle personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Although highly skilled in legal matters, many attorneys don't know how to read medical records and charts. In addition, the terminology in these records often requires interpretation or clarification. A legal nurse consultant is a valuable asset to these attorneys, since he or she has a background in case law and the civil litigation process that compliments his or her formal medical training. Since the services of LNCs are charged on a fee basis, much like attorneys, the field is particularly lucrative. A typical fee of about $20,000 would include the following services provided by a LNC to an attorney: - Analysis of medical records associated with the case - Preparation of any necessary trial exhibits - Preparation of witnesses for both deposition and trial testimony - Attendance at trial - Preparation of questions for cross-examination In Texas, projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that nursing will be the fastest growing occupation over the next five years. Historically, nursing jobs provide long-term stability. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies estimates that the demand for nurses in the state will grow by 86% while the supply will grow by only 53%. The need for legal nurse consultants is expected to experience similar growth. The state of Texas has a diverse, vibrant and highly productive economy. While Texas is typically known for oil production, it also is a leader in agriculture, with more farmland than any other state. Texas ranks second in overall cost of living in the United States and is a leader in high tech and manufacturing jobs. The job outlook for Legal Nurse Consultants in Texas is expected to remain positive for many years to come. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1279271