Legal Nurse Consultants As Risk Managers

Legal nurse consultants are uniquely qualified to become excellent risk managers.

A hospital risk manager wears many hats. It is a demanding role that is critical to a facility's economic survival. Traditionally, risk managers are often lawyers or insurance underwriters. However, legal nurse consultants possess all the requisite skills and background to be excellent risk managers.

Core Competencies

Legal nurse consultants can develop proactive strategies that not only mitigate risk, but improve health care delivery systems throughout an organization. Because they are first and foremost nurses, legal nurse consultants are experts in patient care. They have unique insight and understanding as to how patient care is accomplished within a hospital setting. Legal nurse consultants are able to accurately analyze and interpret complicated medical records.These are core competencies critical for effective risk management.

Subject Matter Expertise

The chief role of the legal nurse consultant is to evaluate, analyze and render informed opinions on the delivery of health care, along with the potential resulting outcomes. Many legal actions brought against health care facilities allege a failure to meet the standard of care. Legal nurse consultants inherently understand this concept, and are well poised to advise legal counsel and hospital administrators of their degree of financial exposure.

Bridging the Gap

All nurses are trained in the principles of quality, prevention and safety. These are also cornerstones of a sound risk management program. Legal nurse consultants are able to bridge the gap that often exists between cost and quality.

References

• The Role of the Legal Nurse Consultant
• AALNC Position Statement on the Role of the Legal Nurse Consultant as Distinct from the Role of the Paralegal and Legal Assistant
• A Risk Management Standard

Resources

• The Role of the Nurse Manager in Maintaining Quality and Managing Risk