You, the attorney, decided you need a legal nurse consultant (10 Benefits of Hiring a Legal Nurse Consultant) now lets talk tips to hiring and finding the right legal nurse consultant.

1. The most important part of the resume is their nursing experience, not a legal nurse consultant certificate. I recently heard an attorney say she “feels the certificate looks more like a hired gun to the judge and jury). Understanding what the attorney needs, and legalese, will be extremely helpful. However, much more important to your case is finding the right legal nurse consultant based on their nursing experience. I had a wonderful opportunity to have a mentor in James with Schwartz Associates. To stay current, I regularly pursue continuing education, online courses through the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants and recently attended an in-person class with Laurie R. Elston Nurse Attorney & Owner at the Nursing Law Center. Each step improves my reviews and report writing skills. Also, for an initial review, a nurse is a nurse. What I mean is nursing standards and breaches can be picked out by most experienced nurses regardless of their nursing experience. If merit is found, then the legal nurse consultant’s next step should be to advise what type of expert(s) will be needed.
2. Understanding what you need as an attorney comes with legal nurse consulting experience. Having said that, hiring a new legal nurse consultant does not have to be a deterrent. However, the additional time required while you help with revised reports etc. as their skills are developing should be an area of hourly rate negotiation.
3. Be certain to look at the product and case financial needs as a whole. For example, I worked on a chronology used for long-term care planning. As I am sure you are aware, there were a copious amount of medical records. The attorney-client was initially surprised by the amount of time I spent. However, when the chronology was sent on for long-term care planning with a physician’s review and their projected costs the physician stated it was one of the most well-organized chronologies he had seen.  That led to less time charged by the physician.  In the end, my cost was less than that of the physician reviewer, therefore, my product was worth the cost.
4. Time is money and everyone’s time and money are valuable an itemized invoice should be provided. In any profession, one or both can be misused. An itemized invoice of time spent should be provided by the legal nurse consultant. For example, initial record review, phone call report(s) to the attorney, written report(s), expert witness(s) location etc.
5. Communication is important in all relationships and no less so in a business affiliation. You should feel comfortable speaking with the legal nurse consultant about any concerns you might have and he/she should feel the same. Mutual respect is imperative for the knowledge everyone brings to the case.
6. Finding the right legal nurse consultant also means you receive the product you expect. Both the attorney and the legal nurse consultant are responsible for ensuring expectations are clear from the beginning and as the case needs evolve.

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