Nurse Paralegal Jobs
A nurse paralegal is responsible for analyzing legal material related to a malpractice case or reviewing health insurance information associated with the litigation process. She is a legal professional who has completed an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies, and completed training as a registered nurse or nurse practitioner. Job and career opportunities exist in the legal and healthcare fields, as well as with federal and state government entities.
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Signifiance
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Individuals who have completed educational requirements to become a Registered Nurse (RN) can move into the legal environment to use their medical expertise to resolve legal cases. Law practices and government entities often work with a nurse paralegal to solve cases and determine the best course of action for their clients.
Function
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A nurse paralegal plays a supporting role during the legal process. Nurse paralegal degree programs can be completed at vocational schools, online, or through a public or private college or university. A nurse paralegal is responsible for studying current legal issues, researching medical records, conducting relevant interviews, and preparing legal documents for a court case. A nurse paralegal may work with an attorney, or provide services independently for a government organization or insurance agency.
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Types
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Individuals who complete a nurse paralegal degree program can pursue a number of career paths. Positions and job opportunities for nurse paralegals include: forensic nursing; legal nurse consulting; claims investigation; medical litigation support and insurance risk examiners. Only registered nurses can become fully trained as nurse paralegals and obtain the nurse paralegal designation. Some choose to become a legal nurse consultant at a later stage in their career.
Considerations
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A nurse paralegal typically has a background in law and may have practiced as a nurse at some point in her career. She can use her legal skills and medical knowledge to help win a case, and are especially valuable for doctors who do not want to hire an attorney who may have limited experience and knowledge of medical malpractice. Nurse paralegal degree programs can be completed at a college or university or online. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a favorable outlook for nurse paralegal careers through 2016.
Misconceptions
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A legal nurse consultant (LNC) is not necessarily a paralegal and may not be trained in several areas that a nurse paralegal is required to have knowledge in. A legal nurse consultant is often hired to review and analyze personal injury cases, provide insights and recommendations for insurance companies, and work with healthcare professionals who need medical legal advice. In most cases, a nurse paralegal works directly with attorneys on specific cases.
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