I am privileged to meet registered nurses from all over the U.S. when I teach the CLNC® Certification Seminar. I am both intrigued and dismayed when I meet that one RN who has no confidence in herself, especially in contrast to the RNs who already see themselves as successful.
Sometimes I come across a nurse who is incredulous that other RNs are earning $125/hr. as Certified Legal Nurse Consultants. This is hardly a large sum of money. Traditionally, any consultant gets paid in the range $150-$250/hr. and many bill even more – no matter the industry.
What’s happened to the state of nursing that makes RNs believe they’re not worth much? Does it have to do with the fact that many don’t have a voice or feel like commodities? Or does it have to do with the fact that the hospital doesn’t even bill for nursing services, instead just including nurses as part of the room rate? How stupid is that?
Our thoughts drive our beliefs. If you see yourself as powerless, that’s what you will be. We are more likely to succeed when we think in an elevated way. Given the current nursing environment, it’s hard to stay elevated – maybe that’s why I’m seeing more and more nurses leaving RN hospital jobs to become Certified Legal Nurse Consultants.
Anytime you find yourself entertaining doubts or trying to limit what you think is possible, remind yourself of your past successes as an RN. After all, you save lives. Let those successes infuse you with confidence and bolster your resolve. Believing you can do it – whatever “it” is – is 90% of the win.
4 thoughts on “How to Transform Confidence into Dollars”
I’m feeling just that way and can’t wait to get out of the hospital environment!!
I Declare – I’m blessed with creativity, with confidence, courage, promotion, and success!! I Declare – whatever I put my hands to will prosper and succeed. I Declare – I’m blessed because God says I am, that’s all I need!
You are right Vickie. It is hard to get started in this business if an RN does not have any confidence. I have some friends who are new CLNC® consultants asking me for tips to get started, even though I have only had a few real case experiences. My best tip came from you – to make up your own invented case for product samples to show attorneys. Although you may not have had a case yet, you do know how to present facts of a case professionally. One case sample was all it took to boost my confidence and get on the right path of thinking, “I am a nurse and I can do anything.” Like you said Vickie, “Success is inside.” All it takes is getting your head wrapped around it.
Vickie,
Your philosophy and nursing background were both immediate sources of inspiration and motivation to me. I studied diligently to take the CLNC® Certification Program back in 2007, and I passed the first time! It was almost as difficult as my nursing boards!
I have been an RN for over 30 years, and I started out in the critical care setting of the hospital. The level of learning in that intense area for my first decade as a nurse instilled a solid, knowledgeable, confident foundation in the healthcare industry.
I was recruited to do pharmaceutical research in the 90’s, and I have been doing clinical research for multi-therapeutic areas of investigational drug and device studies. The diversity of my career has been challenging, but epic in the value I have obtained. I am proud to be a CLNC® consultant, and I have not really had the chance to take it on and “grow my business” into a full time position because I needed the steady paycheck for children in college. However, I did some cases that were very complex for legal nurse consulting, and I did a completely successful job!
That was because of your course! You gave me the tools and training to be able to believe in myself to name my price (which I believe I am worth–I bring much to the table in the way of experience and knowledge, along with an honest work ethic).
I am looking forward to 2016 (maybe mid-year) to ramp up my business and clientele. People have actually approached ME to do review of medical records without any advertisement. I feel blessed for that, so I just can imagine if I did put forth time and effort into the “growing of my own business.”
Thank you for your continued support to your CLNC® consultants!
Joanna M. Tucker
LegalNurse.com is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
The National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants (NACLNC®) is the largest and oldest association of legal nurse consultants.
Need tuition assistance? We've partnered with Sallie Mae to provide financing options.
*The opinions and statements made by Vickie Milazzo, the founder of Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. are based on her experiences and expertise, should not be applied beyond the specific context provided, and do not guaranty or project actual results. Vickie Milazzo is no longer involved in the operations or management of the business, but is involved as an independent education consultant.
I’m feeling just that way and can’t wait to get out of the hospital environment!!
I Declare – I’m blessed with creativity, with confidence, courage, promotion, and success!! I Declare – whatever I put my hands to will prosper and succeed. I Declare – I’m blessed because God says I am, that’s all I need!
You are right Vickie. It is hard to get started in this business if an RN does not have any confidence. I have some friends who are new CLNC® consultants asking me for tips to get started, even though I have only had a few real case experiences. My best tip came from you – to make up your own invented case for product samples to show attorneys. Although you may not have had a case yet, you do know how to present facts of a case professionally. One case sample was all it took to boost my confidence and get on the right path of thinking, “I am a nurse and I can do anything.” Like you said Vickie, “Success is inside.” All it takes is getting your head wrapped around it.
I agree Stephanie. It is all in the mind in believing and seeing yourself there.
Vickie,
Your philosophy and nursing background were both immediate sources of inspiration and motivation to me. I studied diligently to take the CLNC® Certification Program back in 2007, and I passed the first time! It was almost as difficult as my nursing boards!
I have been an RN for over 30 years, and I started out in the critical care setting of the hospital. The level of learning in that intense area for my first decade as a nurse instilled a solid, knowledgeable, confident foundation in the healthcare industry.
I was recruited to do pharmaceutical research in the 90’s, and I have been doing clinical research for multi-therapeutic areas of investigational drug and device studies. The diversity of my career has been challenging, but epic in the value I have obtained. I am proud to be a CLNC® consultant, and I have not really had the chance to take it on and “grow my business” into a full time position because I needed the steady paycheck for children in college. However, I did some cases that were very complex for legal nurse consulting, and I did a completely successful job!
That was because of your course! You gave me the tools and training to be able to believe in myself to name my price (which I believe I am worth–I bring much to the table in the way of experience and knowledge, along with an honest work ethic).
I am looking forward to 2016 (maybe mid-year) to ramp up my business and clientele. People have actually approached ME to do review of medical records without any advertisement. I feel blessed for that, so I just can imagine if I did put forth time and effort into the “growing of my own business.”
Thank you for your continued support to your CLNC® consultants!
Joanna M. Tucker