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Nurse Life Care Planning
Nurse Life Care Planning is a specialized area of nursing practice dealing with individuals who
sustained a catastrophic injury/illness. The nursing process and nursing care plan is the foundation
of nurse life care planning. Just as in nursing school and clinical settings, Nurse Life Care
Planners use the nursing process to formulate a plan of care which is entitled a Nurse Life Care
Plan. The Nurse Life Care Plan process follows the standards set forth by the American Association
of Nurse Life Care Planners (AANLCP®) and the nursing process.
The highlights of the nursing process include assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification,
planning, implementation, and evaluation. The Nurse Life Care Plan is a tool used for estimating
medical and non-medical needs of a client with a catastrophic injury/illness. As needed, the
Nurse Life Care Plan uses a collaborative approach of various health care providers and their
opinions. The Nurse Life Care Plan is intended to follow the client throughout his/her lifetime. The Nurse Life Care Plan is specific
to the individual based on his/her needs. It is an estimate of medical and non-medical needs
as well as costs based on the assessment and may be modified or reviewed as life situations
change.
A Life Care Plan Review is requested when the opposing counsel has completed a Life Care Plan in a litigated case. Attorneys and insurance carriers request a Life Care Plan Review to assess the medical value of a case. Opposing Life Care Plans may be under- or over-estimated when determining future needs and costs. There may be errors in calculation. Opposing Life Care Plans may leave out essential future needs or exclude probable complications/secondary diagnosis related to the injury/illness. A Life Care Plan Review is then appropriate in assisting the attorneys and insurance carriers in preparation for the settlement or trial process. Also, the Nurse Life Care Planner may be requested to discuss the Life Care Plan Review in court trial and be designated as an expert witness.
