A legal nurse consultant is a nurse who works as an expert on cases involving medical issues. This can be in court or with insurance companies, healthcare providers, and other agencies. Legal nurse consultants are valuable in that they bring clinical experience, medical education, and a scientific background to the legal arena, assisting attorneys in the litigation process.

Those seeking a career in legal nurse consulting should have experience in the medical field and knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and current standards of care for various disease processes. They also should value patient advocacy and patient rights. Interest in, and knowledge of the legal field is encouraged.

What Are the Education Requirements?

Those interested in the field of legal nurse consulting should first pursue a nursing degree through a two- or four-year university. Obtaining an associate’s degree (ADN) or bachelor’s degree (BSN) in nursing is required.

After completion of an accredited nursing program, successful completion of the NCLEX-RN is required for licensure.

Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?

While not required, certification as a legal nurse consultant is recommended. Formal certification demonstrates the nurse is committed to the field and adheres to the highest standard of care and professionalism. Coursework to become a Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) is offered via online study and prepares students to take the LNCC exam. Eligibility to take the exam requires the following at the time of application:

• Have a current, unrestricted RN license
• Have a minimum of five years’ experience as a practicing RN
• Have, and demonstrate evidence of,2,000 hours of legal nurse consulting experience within the last five years

Certification is valid for five years. Renewal criteria for LNCCs include:

• Have a current, unrestricted RN license
• Have evidence of 2,000 hours of legal nurse consulting within the last five years
• Completion of 60 contact hours that meet the recommended criteria OR successfully complete the LNCC exam

Depending on where the LNC is employed, additional education is recommended. For example, med-legal courses and learning legal terminology is beneficial.

Where Do Legal Nurse Consultants Work?

Legal nurse consultants can work in various settings. From courtrooms to government agencies, their expertise is highly valuable in legal proceedings. A legal nurse consultant can work in the following areas:

• Law offices
  • Personal injury
  • Medical malpractice
  • Product liability
• Insurance companies
  • Worker’s compensation
  • Disability
  • Billing/ billing fraud
• Government agencies
  • Government-funded healthcare billing/claims
  • Assist in defending state agencies
• Hospitals
  • Risk management
  • Case management
  • Licensure concerns

Additionally, many LNCs work independently, running their own consulting businesses. This allows for flexibility and being able to determine their own wages.

Legal nurse consultants are nurses first. This means that safe and high-quality patient care is top priority. Legal nurse consultants work to ensure that any malpractice concerns or insurance claims are handled appropriately, leading to the best outcome for patients.

What Are the Roles and Duties of Legal Nurse Consultants?

The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants outlines how to get started as an LNC. It describes the various roles in detail and many opportunities and roles are listed. For example, LNCs working in a law firm or for a private attorney usually focus on medical malpractice cases. Duties include:

• Review and summarize medical records
• Review current standards of care
• Act as a liaison with healthcare providers
• Attend depositions, arbitrations, and mediations
• Serve as an expert witness

LNCs employed with insurance companies also have specific duties. Their primary focus is to ensure that healthcare benefits are paid appropriately per the policy. Duties include:

• Serve as case managers
• Utilization review
• Audit medical bills
• Work as case managers

LNCs working in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities usually work in-house in risk management or med-legal departments. They typically have the following responsibilities:

• Investigate patient claims of medical malpractice
• Review and summarize medical records
• Staff education
• Work alongside the facility’s legal team
• Ensure adherence to compliance/healthcare privacy laws

Legal Nurse Consultant Salary & Employment

Many nurses are lured by the benefits of becoming a legal nurse consultant. Being able to work from home, setting your own wages and hours, and learning a new field is attractive to nurses looking for a change from bedside nursing. Best of all, there are no long, 12-hour shifts. According to payscale.com, the average salary for a legal nurse consultant can range from $55,092 to $211,399. Salary is dependent on the state, city, organization, and whether the LNC is self employed.

The nurse executive plays a pivotal role in medical care as they help carry out the mission of their healthcare organization. A nurse executive often holds the most senior nursing position in their place of employment, and can even hold a title such as Director of Nursing. In order to be an effective nurse executive, RNs must clearly and effectively communicate with their nursing staff to help provide the best patient care possible. Not only do nurse executives assume social responsibility for instilling change to improve the health of patients, families, and communities as a whole; but they also practice moral and ethical principles while doing so. Nurse executives are considered to be very valuable members in healthcare management.

A mix of high-level nursing knowledge combined with savvy business skills are required to become a successful nurse executive. Typically, a high level nursing degree and even a business degree are needed to enter the role, along with a substantial amount of nursing experience. To be suited for this high-level position, nurses must have a passion for leadership, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and have a knack for the business side of healthcare.

What Are the Education Requirements for Nurse Executives?

In order to become a professional nurse executive, one must complete a series of steps to ultimately become certified:

• One must first obtain their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN)degree
• It is highly recommended to either double major in business or to take business classes as this position is multifaceted and managerial
• One must then pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
• Upon passing the boards, one must work as a registered nurse, obtaining experience in the field to help identify and find solutions to the issues found while working
• One must then obtain their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)or a Master’s in Healthcare or Business Administration (MHA/MBA). The program generally takes two years to complete. See our list of MSN in Executive Nurse Leadership programs.
• Prior to applying for certification, it is best to get experience working in an executive role in healthcare such as a nurse manager, supervisor, director, or assistant director
• The next step is to gain certification, such as the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)credential through the American Organization of Nurse Executives

Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?

As a nurse executive manages and oversees an entire nursing staff in a healthcare environment, he or she must have advanced certification. While some degree programs may simultaneously prepare students for these certification exams, it is important to meet all accreditation standards as there are a few exceptions. For instance, if one does not pursue a master’s degree, 30 hours of continuing education credits will be required.

As credentials make a world of difference to one’s resume when applying for nurse executive roles, the more credentials one has, the greater the employment opportunities. The American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC) offers two exams: The Nurse Executive and Nurse Executive-Advanced exams. In addition to the ANCC, the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) provide certification credentials that include Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) and Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML). Read more for further clarify on nurse executive certifications.

Where Do Nurse Executives Work?

Common places of employment for nurse executives include:

• Hospitals
• Healthcare organizations
• Home health agencies
• Nursing homes
• Nursing schools
• Consulting firms

What Does a Nurse Executive Do?

A professional nurse executive will need to possess leadership qualities as they must share ideas and effectively mentor their team. As this field is fast-paced and generally behind-the-scenes, one must be comfortable in assuming a managerial role. Nurse executives promote creativity within a nursing team, demonstrate financial responsibility, provide continuing education courses, and encourage the staff to join national nursing organizations. The roles of nurse executives have expanded from simply focusing on nursing services to a broader overview of patient care in a healthcare system.

What Are the Roles and Duties of a Nurse Executive?

Some of the duties tasked to nurse executives include:

• Designing and managing patient care
• Creating healthcare facility budgets
• Effectively communicating diverse needs
• Bearing the responsibility of financial accountability within healthcare organizations
• Shaping policies related to health and nursing care
• Overseeing the planning and development of policies and procedures for healthcare facilities
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary health professionals
• Advocating for patients and staff
• Developing networks of quality care and wellness

Nurse Executive Salary & Employment

With healthcare constantly evolving and changing, nurse executives must raise awareness and constantly seek new ways to provide services not only for today but for the foreseeable future. With this in mind, the duties of a professional nurse executive will only continue to expand as these nurses assume responsibility for instilling change in healthcare organizations. By being flexible yet innovative, nurse executives must continue to learn how to grow in order to truly succeed at their job. With advanced nursing jobs increasingly in demand, the overall employment for this type of role remains high.

Certified nurse executives can earn an annual salary of anywhere from $70,000 to well over $100,000. Location, place of employment, education level, experience, and many other factors will determine the exact salary.

Nurse entrepreneurs use their professional nursing experience and education to start their own business in the healthcare industry. Businesses established by nurse entrepreneurs may include developing and selling a home health product or medical device, or offering independent nursing services, such as patient care, nursing education, home health and/or consulting services. A nursing career path that offers independence and autonomy, becoming a nurse entrepreneur requires creativity, hard work and strong business skills.

Becoming a Nurse Entrepreneur

As in other nursing careers, aspiring nurse entrepreneurs begin their careers by completing their Associate’s Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. In addition to the standard nursing education, nurse entrepreneurs benefit significantly from learning important business skills such as marketing, accounting and managerial techniques. Then an aspiring nurse entrepreneur often begins work as a professional nurse in order to learn the industry and discover business opportunities within it.

While an advanced degree is not required for nurse entrepreneurs to start their own business, many nurses may consider a dual master’s degree program in nursing and business administration, in which students complete their Master’s of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration degrees simultaneously.

Nurse entrepreneurs work for themselves and therefore the skills required for this position vary depending on the nature of the individual business venture, but in general the following skills and qualifications are beneficial for nurse entrepreneurs:

• ADN or BSN degree and valid RN license
• Prior professional nursing experience within the relevant area of specialty
• Basic business skills and knowledge (e.g., accounting, marketing, ability to manage staff)
• Good communication skills for interacting with customers, patients and employees
• Ability to work independently and willingness to take on personal financial risk

In general, nurse entrepreneurs have completed a minimum of the ADN or BSN degree and have attained an RN license in the state in which they live. A background in business is also highly valuable for nurses who wish to start their own businesses. This may include informal training or mentoring in business skills, taking a few courses in business, or attaining a business degree. Many nursing schools across the country offer dual programs which deliver MSN and MBA degrees simultaneously.

Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?

There are no specific certifications or credentials required for becoming a nurse entrepreneur. However, a nurse entrepreneur may find certain certifications valuable based on the nature of their business. For instance, a nurse who runs a home health company and provides patient care may wish to hold the Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.

Nurse entrepreneurs may work in a variety of settings, including in offices running their own business, as an independent nurse contractor in hospitals or clinics, in home healthcare visiting patients, or as a nurse educator. Nurse entrepreneurs have the freedom to set their own hours and the flexibility to determine their own work environments based on the company they establish.

What Does a Nurse Entrepreneur Do?

A nurse entrepreneur uses his or her background in professional nursing to start their own business within the healthcare industry. Business ventures established by registered nurses run the gamut from medical devices and home health products to independent nursing services such as patient care, nursing education, home health services and consulting work. The day-to-day responsibilities of a nurse entrepreneur depends upon the specific venture, but usually includes activities related to running a business including accounting, marketing or sales, and developing a customer base.

What Are the Roles and Duties of a Nurse Entrepreneur?

• Use nursing education and experience to establish their own business venture within the healthcare field
• Promote the business, including advertising and sales efforts to attract and retain customers
• Hire and manage employees to assist in running the business as needed
• Tend to the financial side of running a business, including accounting, payroll and tax issues
• Provide healthcare products or nursing services which may include direct patient care, education or consulting services depending on the nature of the business

Nurse Entrepreneur Salary & Employment

An increasing number of nurses are enjoying the benefits of self-employment. While salary can vary widely based on the specifics of their business ventures, many nurse entrepreneurs are also independent nurse contractors who set the terms of their own services and negotiate their salary with a healthcare facility, such as a hospital or nursing home. While not as certain as traditional employment, a career as a nurse entrepreneur can be more profitable than a standard RN position.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nursing is a field sub-specialty where nurses work with newborn infants who have a variety of medical ailments, such as premature congenital disabilities, cardiac malformations, dangerous infections, and other morphological or functional problems. Medical literature defines the first month of life as the neonatal period. NICU nursing typically encompasses care for infants with complications proximately after birth; however, that isn’t to say that it excludes care for infants experiencing chronic long-term problems following their birth. NICU nurse will typically care for infants from the time of their birth until they’re discharged from the hospital.

What Are the Educational Requirements for a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse?

To become a neonatal intensive care nurse, you first must be a registered nurse (RN) with either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). Hospitals hiring for neonatal intensive care appointments will give priority to RNs who have obtained their BSN over those with only an ADN. Although certification is not always required for RNs to work in NICU settings, many NICU nurses must meet the requirement of having a minimum number of years of clinical experience in institutional contexts.

• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Post-Master’s Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Certificate Programs

Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?

After obtaining an ADN or BSN, individuals are then eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN). Upon taking and passing the NCLEX-RN examination, individuals are subsequently able to apply for their registered nursing license.

The National Certification Corporation (NCC) requires the following credentials for individuals to be eligible to take the RNC-NIC examination specific to neonatal intensive care nursing:

• Must currently be a registered nurse in the U.S. or Canada
• Must have been employed in a neonatal-related field during the last two years
• Must have at least one of the following: at least 2,000 hours of neonatal specialty experience in direct patient care, administration, education, or research. Or, at a minimum, two years of experience working directly with severely afflicted infants as a registered nurse

A day in the life of a NICU nurse is unpredictable, and can be both overwhelming and rewarding. At the start of the shift, you walk through secure doors to a locked unit. You’re required to first stop at the sink area to scrub your hands and arms from fingertips to elbows for a full minute with antiseptic, antimicrobial soap as if you are about to perform surgery.

Most NICU assignments consist of one to three patients, depending on the acuity of the baby. You may have three “feeder growers” or one very ill baby on life support. Some days, you may find you are the admission nurse and start your day attending a very premature delivery.

The NICU has a strict schedule for feedings and checking vital signs while minimizing the number of disruptions. NICU days are typically divided into three or four-hour periods, depending on “hands-on” care for the baby. Babies that are eating by mouth usually eat every three to four hours, whereas sicker babies or very premature infants receive less hands-on care to reduce overstimulation. All babies are continuously monitored in the NICU, and each baby is placed on a cardiorespiratory monitor to measure their heart rate and respiration. Other babies may require constant pulse ox monitoring, invasive blood pressure monitoring, and temperature or CO2 readings.

Where Do NICU Nurses Work?

NICU nurses will find employment in both privately owned as well as public hospitals. Once in a while, although infrequently, NICU nurses can be found working in home-health service settings or even as a part of medical emergency teams. Here is a list of the most common locations you will find NICU nurses:

• Hospitals
• Neonatal Intensive Care Units
• Community Health Organizations
• Medical Evacuation and Transport Services
• Home Health Services

Neonatal intensive care nurses typically take on the following duties:

• Provide comfort, support, and care to newborn infants who may have serious health conditions
• Communicate and cooperate with other healthcare professionals as part of a larger NICU team
• Administer treatments and medication that have been prescribed by physicians
• Educate the mothers and other family members of patients about infant care
• Use cutting-edge equipment and technological machines and devices

What Are the Roles and Duties of NICU Nurses?

The following describes the distinct levels of neonatal care and the kind of work involved at each level:

• Level I NICUs (Basic Newborn Care): RNs specialize in providing postnatal care for healthy newborn infants. In these facilities, RNs help to maintain the stability of newborn infants at 35 to 37 weeks’ gestation who are physiologically sound. They help to stabilize infants who are born at less than 35 weeks’ gestation and/or sick until they can be transferred to a healthcare facility that can provide an acceptable level of neonatal care.
• Level II NICUs (Advanced Neonatal Care): RNs working at this level care for less critically ill newborns who may require breathing and feeding support, or special medication. Level II NICU units are found in smaller healthcare facilities called special care nurseries.
• Level III NICUs (Sub-specialty Newborn Care): RNs working at these NICUs care for infants that have been born at less than 32 weeks’ gestation and newborns suffering from severe afflictions at any gestational age. Typically, level III NICUs offer patients access to a complete spectrum of pediatric sub-specialties, respiratory support systems, and advanced imaging technologies.
• Level IV NICUs (Regional NICU; Highest Level of Neonatal Care): These facilities provide the care for infants who are born as young as 22 to 24 weeks’ gestational age. Level IV NICUs provide mechanical ventilation, including high-frequency ventilation, and a wide range of advanced surgeries including “open-heart” surgeries needed to correct congenital heart defects. Some level IV NICU facilities provide ECMO or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

NICU Nurse Salary & Employment

According to Payscale, RNs that work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) make an average annual salary of $60,375, while Neonatal Nurse Practitioners make an average annual salary of $93,122. Individuals should be aware that salaries of NICU nurses and nurse practitioners can vary extensively depending on a wide variety of factors.

The demand for RNs is robust. The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that RNs holding at least a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) are more inclined to have better job prospects than those with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN). Between 2012-2022, job growth for RNs in general is expected to grow by 19%.

Nursing administration encompasses a wide variety of executive-level nursing tasks. Nurse administrator typically manages staff in a series of medical departments or hospitals, and completes administrative tasks such as performance reviews, attending meetings, developing training and personnel procedures, and more. A nurse administrator typically reports directly to a hospital CEO and may oversee nurse managers. This role is typically office-based and managerial in nature, with little to no direct patient interaction.

Becoming a Nurse Administrator

Nurse administrators are advanced-practice registered nurses (APRNs), meaning that they must hold a post-graduate nursing degree. Because nurse administrators manage staff and have high-level responsibilities, they must have extensive experience in nursing and impeccable leadership and management skills.

A typical nurse administrator job description can include any of the following:

• Master’s degree in nursing or healthcare administration
• Valid nursing and CPR certification
• Nursing leadership experience
• Excellent knowledge of healthcare legal regulations and hospital procedures
• Ability to lead and develop personnel
• Outstanding communication and problem-solving skills
• Understanding of basic budgeting and financial reporting

To search and apply for open nurse administrator positions, visit our job boards.

What Are the Education Requirements for Nurse Administrators?

Upon completing an undergraduate nursing degree program, such as a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN), and securing RN licensure via the NCLEX-RN exam, nurses are eligible to enter a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. While an MSN is usually sufficient for the role, some nurse administrators opt to pursue a doctoral degree in nursing (DNP). This is a specialty best suited for experienced nurses.

Read more on Master’s in Nursing Administration programs.

Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?

Most employers appreciate a nurse administrator with credentials. There are a few certifications available for this type of specialty. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers a Nurse Executive certification as well as a Nurse Executive-Advanced certification. The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) offers certification in Executive Nursing Practice. Eligibility for these certifications vary, but generally a nurse must hold a valid RN license, have held an administrative or management position, and have a certain number of recent continuing education credits. Read more for further clarify on nurse executive certifications.

Where Do Nurse Administrators Work?

Nurse administrators are most often employed at hospitals, though they generally work in offices and don’t have a patient-facing role. Some nurse administrators oversee multiple hospitals within a system, so they may spend part of their time traveling from hospital to hospital. Nurse administrators may also be found in larger medical facilities, such as long-term care facilities.

Nurse administrators are a vital part of the executive team, overseeing nursing staff and handling personnel matters. They help develop policies and procedures, coordinate between nurses and other departments, and develop budgets. They make departmental decisions and generally set the tone for how things are run. Attending meetings and communicating with nursing staff and other hospital executives are a large part of their role.

What are the Roles and Duties of a Nurse Administrator

Nurse administrators are generally responsible for the following:

• Recruiting, hiring, and training nurses
• Conducting performance evaluations
• Budgeting and reporting financial matters
• Helping to decide what equipment must be purchased
• Developing policies and procedures and making sure staff are compliant
• Acting as a liaison between departments, nursing staff, and hospital executives
• Developing a strategic vision for the hospital or department

Nurse Administrator Salary & Employment

As advanced-practice RNs, nurse administrators earn a median salary of roughly $81,033 annually, though pay can range between $58,518 and $121,870 per year. Salary is dependent on location, experience, credentials held, and other factors.

As the demand for registered nursing grows, nurse administrator job outlook remains good. Highly skilled and advanced nurses will always be needed for managerial and supervisory roles, and ambitious RNs can look to nursing administration jobs for higher pay and increased responsibility. Additionally, nurses who want more regular hours and are interested in an office-based environment might be suited to a nurse administrator role.