A legal nurse consultant must be a registered nurse, and therefore, the education credentials for a legal nurse consultant depends on the requirements to become a registered nurse in your state. Typically, registered nurses must hold an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and therefore, this will be the minimum requirement to pursue a career as a legal nurse consultant as well. However, further education in the nursing field, such as a master’s degree, may make you a more competitive job candidate and improve your ability to be recognized as an expert witness.
Certifications for Legal Nurse Consultants
Again, the certifications you will need to be a legal nurse consultant will depend on what certifications registered nurses are required to hold in your state. However, these certifications will also depend on your specialization, e.g. pediatrics, addiction, critical care. If you hold a certification that relates strongly to a legal case, you may be a more competitive candidate to act as a legal nurse consultant for that case.
For example, a registered nurse with certification in critical care may be an ideal candidate to act as a legal nurse consultant for a case where a patient was neglected after being admitted to an emergency room. That being the case, legal nurse consultants may find it beneficial to receive certification that commonly applies to legal cases, or commonly apply to the types of cases that they would like to act as a consultant for.