What skills are needed for legal nurse consulting?
The knowledge, experience, and skills necessary for successful performance as a legal nurse consultant include a background in nursing; the ability to review and organize medical records; research skills; writing skills; attention to detail; communication skills; professional judgment; an understanding of issues relating to confidentiality and legal case procedures; the ability to meet deadlines; and, if self-employed, the ability to negotiate contracts, bill for services, protect client files and information, and manage a schedule.
Skills needed for legal nurse consulting
In legal nurse consulting, nurses are providing nursing expertise combined with medical records review, research, and communications. While you do not need to know all of the laws, you need to know the process of gathering and interpreting medical data and presenting that information within a legal matter.
Clinical knowledge
You need a solid foundation in nursing so that you know diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, complications, documentation guidelines and potential outcomes. Your experience should match the type of assignments you take.
Medical record review
Sometimes, medical records will contain duplicates, odd dates, contradictions, or multiple sources. The lawyer must sort out what's important, put things in chronological order, maintain a record of sources, and distinguish between what's known and what remains to be proven.
Writing and research
Attorneys want clear and accurate reports. They do not want unexplained clinical terminology. A competent consultant must write in an objective fashion, explain the rationale behind his or her opinions, and refrain from making conclusions that the medical record cannot support. You must also have the ability to conduct literature searches on a variety of medical topics using appropriate professional and reference sources.
Communication and judgment
There will be times when you'll have to communicate health problems to attorneys, clients, adjusters, judges, or experts. Being a good listener and asking direct questions will help avoid miscommunications. In addition, you'll have to adhere to time limits and promptly advise of missing information or changing circumstances.
Because patient records are considered confidential, consultants must access these records in a secure manner and only share information with authorized personnel, while also complying with privacy regulations. You also need to know when you are being asked a question that falls outside the scope of your training, and when you need to consult with another medical professional.
Business skills
As an independent consultant, you need to know how to read proposals, sign contracts, track hours, issue invoices, pay taxes, keep files, and communicate with clients. These skills will help you to secure consistent business. They cannot, however, replace sound clinical judgment.