Lisa Ortega Could you begin by telling us about your journey into nursing and what led you to establish Ortega & Associates? Growing up, I was always sure I wanted to go into healthcare. I choose nursing because I felt like it allowed me to really connect with and support my patients. Nursing was not just a job but something that aligned with the type of person I am. Throughout my career I was promoted into various leadership positions that gave me a deeper understanding of the complexities of the healthcare system. As a nursing leader I developed an interest in root cause analysis and investigation of clinical errors. This interest led me to learning more about the field of legal nurse consulting, eventually obtaining my Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC) certification and starting Ortega and Associates, LLC. My Legal Life Delivering Expertise as a Legal Nurse Consultant The field of legal nurse consulting has much to offer when it comes to litigation in the healthcare sector, with practitioners able to offer solid advice relating to best practices and expected standards of care. Lisa Ortega, a seasoned legal nurse consultant and founder of Ortega & Associates, speaks with us on her area of expertise in this article. What knowledge and experience does a legal nurse consultant possess, and what value can they bring to a suit? 28 LAWYER MONTHLY AUGUST 2023 As a DNP, you have achieved the highest level of nursing education. How has this academic achievement influenced your approach to legal nurse consulting? As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) I have developed a broader understanding of the obligations and clinical expectations of nurses, as well as the standards of care. By broader, I would say that as a bedside nurse you have knowledge of the basic expectations for providing care to patients, the importance of documentation, escalation of concerns up the chain of command, etc. but these are based on individual situations. However, as I advanced in my education and leadership roles, I began to understand more about the ‘whys’ around what we do as nurses, the value of accurate and timely documentation, policy and procedure development, the
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