I’m co-opting Tom’s Tuesday Tech Tip time for a report from the NACLNC^® Cruise. He’s having so much fun that he probably won’t remember to post until next Tuesday anyway, so I hope you’ll forgive him.

Yesterday was the CLNC^® Beach Olympics and so far there are only a few walking wounded limping around the ship. Apparently a few attendees found the more private parts of Coco Cay and gave new meaning to the phrase “lobster buns.” They’re easy to spot because of the way they sat (or not) at dinner. LOL!

Last night was formal night and Tom did manage to squeeze into his blue-ruffled tuxedo and all of the CLNC^® consultants looked quite elegant in their formal wear. Some of us headed up to the casino after dinner to try our luck at the games of chance (before the romance). With the tuxedos and formals it was all very James Bondish and, if you squinted your eyes, felt almost like Monte Carlo. We didn’t clean out the casino but we still have a few more nights ahead of us.

Today is our first full day of sailing and we have a busy day, not just for the CLNC^® consultants, friends and family who are onboard but for me and my staff too! It may be all fun and games for the Certified Legal Nurse Consultants, but for the rest of us there’s a lot of work! My staff, production crew and I will be up and working before many of the CLNC^® consultants come back to their cabins after a late night in the ship’s casino and clubs.

I guess this is your payback for my making you all study so hard for your CLNC^® examination while we’re out with the CLNC^® faculty drinking wine and having fun at night.

If you can’t find me, I’m in technical rehearsals for my opening speech. Last night I was having so much fun I forgot about having to deliver that speech on Friday. Arrrrgh! Plus Tom has his Tomentary™ which is guaranteed to make you laugh. I think Tom secretly wants to be a standup comedian (he at least cracks himself up). At rehearsal we’ll also be working on my “Cirque du Soleil-inspired” trapeze act.

Today we have NACLNC^® poolside networking so look for the pirate flags and pennants marking our CLNC^® section on the pool deck where Certified Legal Nurse Consultants and guests will enjoy the sun, pool, Caribbean breeze, tropical drinks (with umbrellas) and networking with each other. Let’s hope the ship rolls out a 55-gallon drum of SPF-9000 sunscreen. Then, just when we’ve played our umpteenth game of “Marco Polo” we’ll call it quits and head out of the tropical sun and into the air-conditioned ice rink for a special matinee Ice Skating Performance by the Freedom’s professional ice performers. Last year on the site visit I got to drive the Zamboni^® and throw my first and only Caribbean snowball at Tom (Ha!). I’m still amazed they can have an ice rink on a cruise ship. Too bad I forgot my hockey stick or I’d show Tom and the CLNC^® consultants how a girl from New Orleans knows her way around the pond.

After the ice show I’m hoping there will be time to head up to the top deck to see how many Certified Legal Nurse Consultants are on the rock-climbing wall. Then it’s over to the FlowRider^®. Tom’s been bugging me about trying out the boogie boards so I may just give one a spin.

More tomorrow!

One of my favorite things about cruising is having a glass of champagne as the ship sails. Yesterday we all did just that. The simple ceremony of sailing is such a fine tradition.

I am having so much fun already with everyone and this is only Day 2. Today we’re in the Bahamas at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island paradise. Tom and several of my staff were here last year when we “test-cruised” the ship so we already know the best spots for a private walk on the beach and some skinny-dipping. For everyone else, there’s great beaches, plenty of lounge chairs and all sorts of activities like swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing and WaveRunners^® for the Certified Legal Nurse Consultants who feel the need for speed!

At 10:00am, we have the CLNC^® Beach Olympics. Look for the pirate flags and pennants marking our NACLNC^® area. Afterwards, for the survivors, non-participants and witnesses, we’ll have lunch al fresco on the beach and then it’s time for another of my favorite activities – resting in a shady hammock. I’ve already got mine picked out! I hope Tom remembers to come find me before the ship sails because tonight’s formal night and the Captain’s Reception, plus I want to see if he can still fit into his wedding tuxedo!

Today’s the first day of the NACLNC^® Conference Cruise aboard the Freedom of the Seas. It’s also Registration Day and I am excited to see all my CLNC^® friends again. It’s always fun to meet your families and friends – through them I learn even more about you.

Vince has been living onboard the Freedom for a week already, as a passenger, not a stowaway. He’s been unpacking equipment and blowing up the hundreds of pirate beach balls we got for all of you. Be sure to thank Vince when you get yours. When he asked if he could just blow up a few dozen and put the rest in the Conference tote bags, I assured him he has enough hot air for the job. I might be his twin, but I don’t think he’d appreciate me telling you about this so please don’t repeat what I said when you see him onboard. LOL! Maybe next time we’ll get bigger beach balls!

After registration, we’ll all be exploring the ship. We’re scheduled to set sail around 5pm (remember to bring champagne up on deck) and then for a whole week it’ll be CLNC^® pirates at sea! Tonight is our first networking dinner and we’ve got a special seating area for Certified Legal Nurse Consultants and cabin-mates only. Instead of sitting at the same table every night, we worked a deal with the ship to allow everyone to table-hop from night to night to maximize the networking opportunities. I hope the Captain’s ready for us!

More tomorrow!

Vickie

Attention Certified Legal Nurse Consultants: we’re down to the most important part of the 2011 NACLNC^® Eastern Caribbean Conference Cruise information and that’s the Conference itself. Click here for the Conference Cruise itinerary of all our special NACLNC^® Networking Events. Then continue reading for some special announcements that will ensure your NACLNC^® Conference goes smoothly:

1. Grab Your Booty. Once you board the ship on Sunday, March 13th, there will be MANDATORY Conference Registration in the Conference Center on Deck 2 from 1:30-4:00pm. Register early so that you can be on deck when the ship sails at 4:00pm. Come by and pick up your tote bag, Conference packet and your special CLNC^® Consultants of the Caribbean pirate booty (required for entry into the networking events). Spin the Wheel of Fortune or just say “Ahoy Matey!”
2. Pack Fast and Light (textbook-wise). You have already received your link to the 2011 NACLNC^® Conference Textbook – be sure to download, print and pack the texts for any session you plan to attend so that you’ll have them for the sessions.
• The ship does have a business center, but its hours are erratic and the cost of printing your textbook on board will be prohibitive so be proactive and print it before you leave home.
• After you return home, you’ll receive a link to streaming audio versions of all the 2011 NACLNC^® Conference sessions so you won’t miss any of the action. I’d recommend only printing and bringing the sessions you plan to attend while you’re on board. Remember seating is first come, first served and space is limited!
3. Dine with Your CLNC^® Pirate Compadres. We’ve done away with assigned seats at dinners and have instead arranged a dedicated seating area for all CLNC^® pirates in the main dining room at the late (8:30pm) dinner seating each evening. Join us to put the sea in CLNC^® networking and try and sit with different colleagues every night to make the most out of this unique opportunity.
4. Come Enjoy a Tankard of Grog with the Other CLNC^® Pirates and Me. There will be a Private NACLNC^® Welcome Reception for all NACLNC^® attendees, their guests and cabin-mates. You won’t want to miss this (plus it’s right before dinner on Tuesday, March 15th). Be sure to find your way to Studio B at 7:15pm Tuesday or you’ll be saying “Arrgggghh” because you missed the fun!
5. Don’t Miss a Moment of Momentous Networking and Fun. Click here to read about all our special CLNC^® Networking Events, like the Beach Olympics, Poolside Networking and of course, our Farewell Reception. Remember your family, cruise-mates and cabin-mates are invited to all networking events!
6. Start Your Day with an Eye-Opener. Our Opening Session is in the Arcadia Theatre at 9:00am Friday, March 18th. This year your family, cabin-mates and fellow travelers are all invited to the opening session! Concurrent sessions are for registered CLNC^® consultants only and will be in the Conference Center on Deck 2 beginning at 10:30am. There will be coffee available outside the Conference Center in case you were out late.
7. Get Yourself the Business (Cards that is). Finally, plan on bringing lots of business cards, a sweater (yes it does get cold at sea), pens and plenty of highlighters and be ready to have fun and network!

I can’t wait to see you at Registration on Sunday, March 13th. Bring your family or travel companions by to say hello! This is going to be the best NACLNC^® Conference ever!

Success Is On Board!

The 2011 NACLNC^® Eastern Caribbean Conference Cruise will be here before we know it. Whether you’re a veteran cruiser or a first-timer, I want all Certified Legal Nurse Consultants to have a good time and smooth sailing. Please pay special attention to these important instructions.

1. Make Sure You Have Your Passport to Fun! You and everyone in your party will need a current and valid passport not only to board the ship but to get back into the United States when we return. Conversely, if you meet an attorney in St. Thomas, you can jump ship, stay for a meeting, then fly back to the States later. Don’t worry if you don’t look like your photo now – you will by the end of the cruise and La Migra will let you back into the country anyway.
2. If You Want to Take Your Children and Bring Them Back, Make Sure They’re Papered. If you’re bringing a minor child and their last name differs from yours, you’ll need family legal documents allowing you to take the child out of the country, including a passport and possibly a notarized or certified copy of the child’s birth certificate. THIS IS IMPORTANT: You don’t want to find out that you have to leave your child unattended at the port for the week, or can’t bring him back into the country afterwards.
3. Here’s a Tip – Pay Your Tips in Advance. Your gratuities can be prepaid, and I’m sure you’ll want to because of the great service. There are recommended gratuities for the dining room waiter, assistant waiter and head waiter for bringing you plate after plate of delicious food. Then there’s your stateroom attendant who cleaned up after you all week. You can prepay in advance or just wait until the last night of the cruise to add the tips to your final bill.
4. Here’s Another Tip – All Drinks Have Tips Added In. Speaking of tipping, anytime you buy a drink for me or one of your CLNC^® colleagues, the ship will conveniently add a 15% gratuity. Plan ahead if you’re on a budget.
5. Leave Your Cash at Home Where It’s Safe. Cash is not accepted onboard. Instead, you’ll use your SeaPass^® card which functions as your ID, instant credit and cabin key.
6. Know Who You Are Before You Leave. The name on your cruise reservation must match the name on your passport or legal documentation. If it doesn’t, contact University at Sea^® at 800.422.0711 and fix it today.
7. Don’t Take a Pass on the Sodas or Wine. Buy your wine package ahead of time by calling 800.398.9819. This will keep you from having to wait in line once you’re onboard and you can spend your time doing more valuable things like tanning. If you want a fountain soda package, you’ll need to purchase it onboard, so if you don’t want to wait in line this would be a good time to quit your Coke^® habit.
8. Check-In Early to Save Time. Once all of the above is done, check in online at Royal Caribbean’s website using the “Before You Board” page just like you would an airline. If you haven’t done this yet, you can do it today and it will save time when you arrive at Port Canaveral. You do have to complete this no less than three days before sailing.
9. Don’t Miss the Boat. Be sure to get to the ship on time. It’s a lot easier to catch before it leaves the dock. I’m not kidding about this. If you need to, fly in the night before. You want to be sure you’re onboard when your ship sails! Consider trip insurance if you’re coming from a delay-prone airport. Also, Saturday, March 12th, Daylight Savings Time begins. Set your clocks forward one hour and make sure to set an alarm clock (you can’t rely on the hotel’s wake-up calls).
10. Travel Fast and Light. Carry a small bag onboard (meds, change of smart casual clothes and bathing suit) so you can start having fun the moment you get onboard and before your suitcase gets delivered to your room.
11. You Can Dress Them Up – But You Still Have to Take Them Out. We’d all like to see our man looking like James Bond in his tuxedo but to be honest, March of the Penguins was so last year. Formal nights aren’t as formal as they used to be. Men can get away with suits and ties and ladies can opt for cocktail dresses instead of formals. Or you can opt to go all the way. After all, when was the last time you got to do that?
12. You Can Blow Dry Your Hair But Not Iron It. When you’re dressing for formal night, keep in mind that that the ship will provide a hairdryer (low temperature) in your cabin but not an iron. Just hang the item in a steamy (but empty) shower for a few minutes.
13. Forget About the Dirty Laundry. You can have laundry done on the ship or you can just pack enough clean clothes so that you won’t need to do laundry. They can also press your clothes for a fee.
14. Disconnect – You Deserve It. Bring your cell phone, but don’t use it once we leave Port Canaveral. You may get a signal offshore but it will be at international roaming rates. Check with your cellular carrier for exceptions. For example, St. Thomas is billed by AT&T at regular U.S. rates, but if you use your AT&T phone while on the ship, even for email, you’ll be subject to maritime roaming costs (trust me it’s expensive!).
15. Really Disconnect – Email Can Wait Until You Get Home. You’ll have to buy your Internet access from the ship or else hit an Internet café while you’re in port. Better yet, rather than spending your port days checking email, let everyone know in advance that you’ll be on a week-long class-cation. They’ll understand. Give them and your family the ship’s emergency number of 888.724.7447 just in case a real emergency occurs.
16. Limit Your Duty-Free Purchases. Speaking of ports, cruise lines are pretty smart and won’t let you bring any alcohol onboard. If you buy duty-free alcohol while in a port, the ship will hold it and deliver it to you when you disembark. Then you’ll need to pack it in your luggage for the flight home. Better yet, don’t buy any – the extra couple of dollars you save won’t offset the dry-cleaning cost if a bottle breaks in your packed bags. Save your duty-free purchases for important things like jewelry and cheap souvenirs.
17. Give Yourself Some Credit. While you’re in port, they’ll be happy to take dollars, pennies, pounds or pesos. Major credit cards are also accepted with Visa and MasterCard a little more widely than American Express (but don’t leave home without it anyway).
18. Pack It So You Can Stuff It. Soft-sided or duffel-type luggage will fit in places hard luggage won’t. You’ll also need a small bag (same one you boarded with) for the last night of the cruise. On the last night, you must put your luggage outside leaving you with only a carry-off or small rolling bag for your essentials.

Success Is Onboard!

I am so enjoying all of your communications in anticipation of the 2011 NACLNC^® Conference cruise. I can’t wait to spend those seven days with all of you. Until we meet up on March 13th, here are 15 ideas for having the most fun possible on our cruise.

1. Be on the lookout for fun and games. Besides the usual suspects of Bingo and the casino, there are card games, scavenger hunts, late-night game shows in Studio B (not for children or the weak of heart) and other activities (like the rock-climbing wall) all day and practically all night if you want. Unless your sole ambition is to be the anchor-person in the tug of war, you’ll need to save some energy for the CLNC^® Beach Olympics.
2. But at the same time, RELAX. It’s more than an educational experience. It’s a cruise, a vacation and your chance to get away. If you try and do everything you’ll wear yourself out so save some time for just you! Plan on spending some time at the spa and treat yourself to a massage, facial or a mani-pedi.
3. Take some time out for a meal. Everyone jokes about how much food is available on a cruise ship, but do more than just eat. Your CLNC^® colleagues will be instantly recognizable by the pirate booty we’ll be passing out at Registration so every time you sit down for a meal look for a new networking opportunity. I know it’s fun to eat with your family, but while your spouse is climbing the rock wall and your children are surfing the FlowRider^®, take some time to make a new friend. Find another CLNC^® subcontractor or retie the connection with one of your classmates from the CLNC^® Certification Seminar.
4. Have some fun in the sun. Remember to pack plenty of sunscreen. You’ll need it every day. If you bring a big, floppy hat, make sure it has a chin-strap to keep it from blowing overboard when it blows off (and it will).
5. When it gets too hot (and it will), put yourself on ice – skates that is! There’s a great ice skating rink available and no better way to create a unique memory of the Caribbean than by ice skating hand-in-hand with your partner (or a new one) or just taking the time to perfect your triple axel.
6. Check out a sunset or a sunrise at sea. There are few things more beautiful than a sunset at sea. As an added bonus they’re free! Get out on deck either just before sunset or early in the morning (even if it means staying up all night).
7. Take a walk in the moonlight. If you’re out late, the period just after the late seating dinner is a terrific time to stroll the deck with someone special, a good friend or just by yourself. That’s when Tom and I will sneak up to the front of the ship and take turns doing the Titanic thing (he tends to hog).
8. Leave your inner introvert at home. With the exception of your CLNC^® colleagues, you’ll probably never, ever see your fellow travelers again so let yourself shine! If you can juggle jellyfish try out for the talent night. Find that dark karaoke bar and sing your lungs out or maybe even take that turn Dancing with the CLNC^® Stars at one of the many onboard clubs. You’ll probably find me in the hip-hop club bustin’ a move (or two). I’m glad I’ll be surrounded by nurses if I bust something else.
9. Anticipate smooth sailing, but prepare for heavy seas (not CLNC^® consultants). If you don’t know whether or not you suffer from sea-sickness make a stop at your local drugstore and stock up on Dramamine^®, Bonine^® or those small wristlets that activate your pressure-points. All work equally well. If in doubt you can also ask a friendly doc to prescribe one of the patches. Just a warning, the patch is known to make you groggy (But you’ll save money on drinks!).
10. When in port, explore more than the surf. On St. Thomas and St. Maarten, get out and explore the island before you hit the beach. You’ll have more than enough beach-time at Coco Cay in the Bahamas and, to most of us, beaches look the same everywhere (think about it, sand, crystal-blue water, palm trees and cabana boys in Speedos^®). Soak up some of the local traditions and culture first, then hit the beach where you can relax on the sand with one of those cold drinks with the little umbrellas. The memories will last longer than a tan and won’t itch like sand in your swimsuit.
11. Wear your souvenirs. Over fifty percent of cruisers buy souvenirs. I don’t know how many bedazzled starfishes you need, but t-shirts make great souvenirs. Plan on wearing  them on board and it’s less you have to pack. Of course, you may need to bring an extra fold-up bag to get all those dirty souvenir tees home (and maybe a haz-mat tag to keep TSA from searching your luggage).
12. Churn and burn! Let’s face it, you’re going to be eating more than you’re used to. You may even eat more than you’ve ever dreamed of (or maybe you have). For some reason, calories build up faster on a cruise ship than you can infiltrate an IV. Ameliorate some of the effects by taking a walk around the deck and skipping the elevators when moving between decks. If you’re serious about exercise there’s a great health club onboard so you can pump some iron for long-lasting calorie burn. But if you’re only going for the treadmill, why not breathe the fresh air on deck while you walk?
13. Hang up the phone and turn off the laptop. You can buy an hourly, wireless Internet pass once you get onboard to avoid international roaming charges on your laptop. That way you can update your Facebook status with all the fun you’re having and communicate with your attorney-clients. Keep your cell phone switched off or in “airplane mode” so as not to incur expensive international calling rates (except on St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands)). Check with your carrier before you go to be sure you know what you’re getting into. I’m looking forward to seven days without my iPhone^® and email. Really, I really am.
14. Buy yourself a round, or two or three. I know some of you are so tough that you take your caffeine cold instead of warmed up and poured into a coffee cup. Soda bills can add up quickly onboard, especially if you’re traveling with children. Save yourself a few dollars by purchasing an all-you-can-drink soda plan before or after you board. Even though you’ll be surrounded by water, if you want bottled water you can buy a water package in advance too. Finally, if you like your wine (I do), you can purchase a wine plan in advance. My last information was that pricing varies with the quality of the swill so call Royal Caribbean at 800-555-WINO for pricing and wine options (just kidding, the number to call is 800.398.9819).
15. Don’t miss the special NACLNC^® Networking Events. We have a raft (no pun intended) of special events planned for you and you want to make sure you don’t schedule that massage with Rolando and his magic fingers during any one of them. Remember also that your family, cruise companions and cabin mates are invited to ALL of the networking functions. Look for me, your CLNC^® peers and the pirate flags.
    
    • Sunday, March 13 from 1:30pm-4:00pm – MANDATORY NACLNC^® Conference Registration. Go to the Conference Center on Deck 2 to sign in and collect your CLNC^® Pirate Booty. This will be the only registration day and if you miss it, you’ll end up walking the plank and won’t get to attend any of the extraordinary sessions or events listed below! Get registered early so you can be on deck when the ship sails at 4:00pm.
    • Every evening at 8:30pm – NACLNC^® Networking Dinners. Every evening starting at 8:30pm, join your fellow CLNC^® Pirates of the Caribbean in the Main Dining Room for late-seating dinner. We have a special section just for CLNC^® consultants, their guests and families. To make the most out of this unique opportunity, be sure to sit with someone new every evening. Nothing’s better than networking over dessert!
    • Monday, March 14 from 7:45am-3:00pm – CLNC^® Beach Party at Coco Cay. Find us on the beach at Coco Cay and join your CLNC^® shipmates and their travel companions for some quality beach time, sand in your swimsuit and an open air lunch in on Coco Cay. Then, from 10:00am-1:00pm, help make American Gladiator look like a kindergarten recess with our exclusive CLNC^® Beach Olympics. You can choose to play, participate, cheerlead or just heckle the amateur Olympians. CLNC^® consultants, families and friends of all ages are invited. We’ll have beach games for all skill levels (including total lack of skills). A fun time is guaranteed for the survivors and spectators.
    • Monday, March 14 7:30p-8:30pm – Captain’s Welcome Aboard Reception in Pharaoh’s Lounge and it’s formal night, so put on your tux, little black dress or something fancy so you can strut your CLNC^® stuff at our 8:30pm NACLNC^® Networking Dinner! After dinner if you want, hit the ship’s casino while we’re dressed and we’ll all look like extras from a James Bond movie!
    • Tuesday, March 15 from 7:45am-2:30pm – NACLNC^® Poolside Networking and Pickle Eating Contest. I’m just kidding about the pickles but serious about the networking. Join us anytime at poolside for some networking and tanning. Hang out with your CLNC^® colleagues and their guests for a few minutes, a few hours or the entire day. Just bring plenty of sunscreen and remember, this is the one time it’s okay to look like an iced wedding cake. One reminder, no Speedos^® are allowed (Sorry!).
    • Tuesday, March 15 at 3:00pm – Matinée Ice Show. Take a break from the poolside networking, slip on your jeans and join us in Studio B on Deck 3 at 3:00pm for a performance by the Freedom of the Seas ice skating team. Just like a hockey game, seats near the ice go quick so you’ll want to be on time for this “cool” show and find room in our special seating area (limited seating)!
    • Tuesday, March 15 from 7:15pm-8:15pm – Private NACLNC^® Welcome Reception. Get dressed for networking success and boogie back down to Studio B. If you’re not bringing your spouse (or they’ve already walked the plank), bring your cruising companions or cabin mates instead!
    • Friday, March 18 at 7:00pm – Special CLNC^® Night at the Arcadia Theatre. We’re turning the “dinner and a show” formula upside down. Before we go to dinner, we’ll enjoy one of the ship’s special shows with our own special CLNC^® consultant and guest-only seating section (limited seating). Join us on Deck 2 in the Arcadia Theatre at 7:00pm for what’s guaranteed to be the biggest show you’ll see that night! As an added bonus, it’s formal night again so we’ll all look pretty swell when we parade to dinner after our show. Heads are sure to turn when we enter the Main Dining Room. I’m sure you’ll want to be there.
    • Saturday, March 19 from 7:15pm-8:15pm – Private NACLNC^® Farewell Reception. It will be our last night on the ship and what better night for a farewell reception (funny how we worked that out)? Time to toss your shawl over your shoulder in your best mysterious woman manner (guys can wear mirrored sunglasses) and head back to Studio B for the last time to raise a farewell toast to all your new best CLNC^® friends. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll have some hors d’oeurves and possibly a drink or two or three.

Finally, remember you’re not there just to have fun, you’re there for the premier educational and networking experience for legal nurse consultants. Yes, that means you do have to come to class but we’ve scheduled them for the last two days when we’re at sea so you’ll be tired of all the fun, ready to quit relaxing and yearning to sink your teeth into some great content.

Success Is On Board!

After I became a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant, I worked for a corporation doing internal auditing. After two years, a CLNC^® friend told me about an opportunity to have an exclusive Certified Legal Nurse Consultant contract with an attorney. At first I wasn’t sure I wanted an exclusive contract with any attorney because I did not know if he would have enough work for me. I was wrong. I ended up signing a contract with this attorney-client for $150,000 annually for 40 hours a week. This year I will make about $175,000.

Technology has been a big plus for my CLNC^® business. My husband retired and we moved to Tennessee. My attorney-client lives in California. Technology allows me to work full time at home out of an office that used to be part of our barn as I watch over llamas grazing outside. My attorney-client, who has a protected server that allows her to download documents, copies everything to a disk. One of the best things I’ve adopted from one of Tom’s Tech Tips was dual monitors. I review the files from my attorney-client on one screen while I write my report using the second screen. I also take my work on the road when I travel. My husband races cars so I can just pack up my bag with my laptop and go with him. It’s great because my legal nurse consulting business is completely portable.

The benefits of being a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant are endless. I work out every morning, have coffee with friends, then I go to work. The more I work, the more money I make. I can work 50 hours one week and take a day off the next whenever I choose. In my prior job, I only slept in my own bed about eight nights a month because I had to travel so much. Now as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant, I enjoy staying at home.

When I worked at a full-time job, I could count my friends on one hand. Now, I am more involved in my community and I’m active in the charities that are important to me.

I was going to semi-retire, do a little CLNC^® work but not really do much. However, I have stayed busy and have had numerous offers for additional legal nurse consulting work. When this happens, I contact my network of CLNC^® peers. The NACLNC^® Directory has a wealth of CLNC^® consultants who I can refer business to or recommend as experts.

My advice to nurses is to stop waiting – do it now. Become a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant today. Stop procrastinating!

Guest Blogger Profile

Sheila Silvus Chesanow, RN, MS, CLNC is owner of Chesanow & Associates in Tennessee. She has been a nurse for 30+ years and has been clinically active as a nurse practitioner. Sheila’s CLNC^® practice specializes in acute care, long term care and geriatric medicine.

Everyone knows that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Every Certified Legal Nurse Consultant knows at least one CLNC^® consultant, if not more. If you’ve attended one of our CLNC^® 6-Day Certification Seminars, you’ve made lifelong CLNC^® friends. When you attend the NACLNC^® Annual Conference, you reconnect with CLNC^® consultants from all over the country. But all too often you only do it for those short periods of time. Not everyone capitalizes on their connections to make a strong chain or develop a mini-network.

In this information/communication-driven world of Facebook^®, Twitter^®, Skype^® and the Internet, the only thing holding you back is the lack of a plan. Given the myriad ways we can communicate these days there is nothing, and I mean nothing, stopping any Certified Legal Nurse Consultant from setting up their own CLNC^® Connection Chain (or “CCC” for short).

Set up your CCC in 5 easy steps:

1. Use Darwinian Selection. From your certified, but not certifiable, colleagues pick 5-8 other CLNC^® consultants you respect, who have different specialties than your own and who are in different parts of the country. This is Link 1 in your CCC.
2. Facebook’em Danno. Next, set up your own private group on Facebook and send an invite to each of the Certified Legal Nurse Consultants you’ve identified and ask them to join your group. You now have the second link in your CCC, a place where you and the CLNC^® members of your group can communicate freely and network with each other that doesn’t require any special skill. Remember to set your privacy settings to keep others from seeing your group’s discussions. CCC Link 2 is complete.
3. Get Yourself a Glam-Cam. Your next step is to go out and spend less than $60 and buy a USB web cam with embedded microphone for your computer (unless you’re lucky enough to have an Apple^® laptop or iMac with one built in). Install the camera. (Tom installed mine and claims it’s so simple even a caveman can do it.) Then sign up for the free version of Skype. This will allow you to have weekly video conferences in pairs or in groups with your CCC members. It’s much more fun than telephone conferences and much more rewarding in terms of retying the connections with the other CCCers. You can also use this to check in with your hi-tech attorney-clients. Link 3 checked off.
4. Tweet Like a Tweety-Bird. Join Twitter but be sure to protect your “tweets.” Protecting your tweets allows only those Twitter members you specifically approve to see your tweets. You can still follow Ashton Kutcher, but your tweets will only be seen by those you approve to view them. Use the initiation function of Twitter to send email invitations to your list of CLNC^® colleagues. If you have a texting plan for your smart phone, turn on the mobile tweets function of Twitter and select only those people in your group to update you via cell phone. You can read the rest of the twitterers using Tweetdeck or on Twitter. This way you’ll get texts of important updates from your CCC. Use Twitter to schedule your Skype calls, update your CCC on new attorney-clients or just to tell them what you’re doing. Link 4 in place.
5. Meet Up to Keep Up. When you attend the NACLNC^® Annual Conference, plan on flying in at least two days early to brainstorm with your CCC members. You’ll want to meet before the conference to get your face-to-face time in with your CCC members. Focus on learning from your group and grab new ideas for your legal nurse consulting business so you can rock back and enjoy the conference. Link 5 done and your CLNC^® Connection Chain is ready to pay off big!

Now put your CLNC^® Connection Chain to use. Set accountable and measurable objectives, and share them with your CLNC^® chain members. When you complete an objective, send out a tweet. Schedule at least two Skype calls a month so that everyone can update each other on the steps they’ve taken towards their accountable objectives. Research shows that being accountable to others for the action steps in your strategic plan help you implement them. Celebrate each others’ successes and brainstorm over what went well and what didn’t. This is your private brain trust, exclusive board of directors and personal planning committee – make use of them!

A CLNC^® Connection Chain is a great way to make sure your legal nurse consulting business succeeds. Here’s my challenge to Certified Legal Nurse Consultants – set up your own CCC and put it to the test for 60 days. I’ll be waiting to hear from you when you share with all of us how your CCC has helped your legal nurse consulting business.

Success Is Inside!

I asked the CLNC^® Pros to share the websites they use most often for researching their medical-related cases. I invite you to bookmark your favorites.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Offers links to clinical information and current clinical research.

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Offers links to journals, policies, position statements, references and resources pertaining to family practice.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Provides clinical resources, standards, journals, education and certification information for the critical care nurse.

American College of Physicians (ACP) PIER^® (Physician Information and Education Resource)
Comprises over 490 modules focusing on clinical topics as well as an extensive drug database and helpful patient information. Free to ACP members.

American College of Radiology (ACR)
Outlines standard of care, quality and safety resources, clinical research and news and publications.

American Heart Association
Provides statements, guidelines, clinical updates, news, continuing education, publications and statistics.

American Medical Directors Association
Supplies links to AMDA’s publications and products, news releases and resource library. Specific sections address the interests of medical directors and physicians who practice in long term care.

American Nursing Association (ANA)
Contains the nursing scope of practice including administration.

American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN)
Contains standards, education, links and publications.

Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
Contains education, standards of practice and peer networking for the OR nurse.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Promotes health, prevention of disease, injury and disability and preparedness for new health threats. Also provides intra-agency support and resource-sharing for cross-cutting issues and specific health threats.

CINAHL
Provides the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL^®), the most comprehensive resource for nursing and allied health literature.

Code of Federal Regulations – Title 42 – Public Health
Presents Chapter IV – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services.

Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General
Allows you to check on the exclusion status of a healthcare provider or facility. Contains the list of sanctions and definitions of exclusions for Medicare fraud and other sanctions.

Elder Abuse Information
Helps you recognize and fight against elder abuse. Discusses different forms of elder abuse, causes and symptoms and gives the legal rights of the elderly.

Elsevier
Contains access to a variety of science and health information, books and journals.

eMedicine
Contains peer-reviewed online medical textbooks. Physicians continually update and revise this site. The standard format for each disease or condition includes diagnosis and treatment, differential diagnoses, and a list of additional references.

Federation of State Medical Boards
Contains a databank of board actions and physician disciplinary actions. Includes links to state medical boards.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Helps you investigate concerns about products in the FDA database.

Harrison’s Online
Features the complete contents of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th Edition.

Health Medicine refdesk.com
Contains an alphabetical list of health and disease-related links useful as a starting point for finding medical literature and other sites.

The Health Pages
Allows you to search for a physician by name and state or by specialty practice. This site has more current contact information than other physician directory sites, particularly telephone numbers. Links to state medical boards offering physician discipline information and reports on physicians and facilities are planned for this site.

Healthcare Financing Administration
Links to Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP and other federal search resources.

Hippocrates Magazine
Contains clinical updates in primary care and practice management with access to archives and search features.

Infusion Nurses Society (INS)
Sets the standard for infusion care.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Provides access to improvement knowledge and trustworthy content focused on healthcare quality across a broad array of topics.

Institute for Safe Medicine Practices
Presents links to newsletters, educational programs, medication safety tools and resources, articles, guidelines, products lists and reports.

Johns Hopkins Division of Infectious Diseases Antibiotic Guide
Provides information about infectious diseases and antibiotics. The site requires registration (free).

The Joint Commission
Accredits and certifies more than 17,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the U.S.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
Offers the most widely circulated, peer-reviewed, general medical journal in the world.

Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database (MAUDE)
Gives links to reports of product and device failure and other information.

Mayo Clinic
Provides online resources for diseases and medical conditions, drugs and supplements and tests and procedures.

MDLinx.com
Contains links to 40 medical specialty websites for the latest developments and access to top journals. Also offers an email subscription service to alert you to news in specialties you select.

MedBioWorld
Contains links to publishers of medical and nursing journals in all fields and a complete list of all available journals worldwide.

Medical Library Association (MLA)
Provides educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the healthcare community and the public.

Medical Matrix
Provides ranked, peer-reviewed and annotated clinical medicine online resources for a variety of journals, texts, diseases and medical conditions.

Medical News Today – Litigation/Medical Malpractice News
Includes news and articles published daily on lawsuits, legislation, compensation claims, pharmaceutical company disputes and more.

Medicare
The official U.S. government site for Medicare.

MediLexicon
Contains searches, information, news and resources for the medical, pharmaceutical and healthcare professional, including medical abbreviations, medical dictionary, medical news, ICD-9 search, drug search, medical equipment and surgical instruments and other searches.

MedlinePlus^®
Presents health information from the National Library of Medicine.

Medscape
Supplies medical news, full-text journal articles and resource centers.

MedTerms
Clarifies difficult medical language as defined by doctors in easy-to-understand explanations of over 16,000 medical terms.

Merck Manuals Online
Contains links to search the Merck Manual of Medical Information, Merck Manual of Geriatrics and Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy.

Merck Medicus
Contains information specific to your specialty, including clinical tools, specialty textbooks, journals and professional societies.

Micromedex Healthcare Series
Contains information on drugs, diseases, acute care, toxicology and alternative medicine.

Mosby’s Nursing Consult
Offers a vast array of information relevant to nurses including 38 leading nursing textbooks, 38 leading full-text nursing journals, evidence-based nursing monographs, drug information and calculators, over 370 practice guidelines, 8,000 patient handouts, 8,000 images, “Best Practice” clinical updates, dictionary, MEDLINE, Mosby’s Index and nursing and medical news.

National Association for Home Care & Hospice
Represents the interests and concerns of home care agencies, hospices and home care aide organizations.

National Cancer Institute
Contains information on cancer topics, clinical trials, cancer statistics, research and news.

National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
Helps national, state and local partners in the field be fully prepared to ensure that older Americans will live with dignity, integrity, independence and without abuse, neglect and exploitation.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN)
Offers links to most U.S. nurse practice acts, regulations and state boards of nursing.

National Guideline Clearinghouse
Serves as a public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
Promotes access to palliative care and to maintaining quality care for persons facing the end of life and their families.

National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs)
Delivers outlines and chapters for all applicable programs published by the Joint Commission.

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP)
Contains online resources for pressure ulcer staging and links to public policy, education and research of pressure ulcers.

The New England Journal of Medicine
Contains a variety of clinically relevant medical information, including clinical and research articles, analysis and opinion articles and materials for both learning and teaching.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Presents comprehensive information about OSHA regulations, services, safety programs and employee training manuals with news and an online library.

Oncologic Nurses Society (ONS)
Represents over 37,000 registered nurses and other healthcare providers dedicated to excellence in patient care, education, research and administration in oncology nursing.

Pam Pohly’s Net Guide – Medical Academies & Healthcare Professional Associations
Contains links to hundreds of healthcare societies, academies, professional organizations and associations.

PubMed
Comprises more than 19 million citations for biomedical articles from MEDLINE and life science journals. Citations may include links to full-text articles from PubMed Central or publisher web sites.

Spine Universe
Contains detailed information involving conditions, treatments and wellness surrounding the spine. Additional resources include links to clinical trials, glossary of terms, recommended textbooks about spinal anatomy, videos and animations.

STAT!Ref
Offers access to cross-searchable, full-text medical, nursing and pharmacology electronic textbooks from a wide variety of reputable authors, publishers and societies.

Surgical-Medical-New Terms Glossary
Offers the most complete list of medical products, devices and pharmaceuticals, with links to manufacturers’ websites and Food and Drug Administration information on each product.

UpToDate
Provides evidence-based, peer-reviewed-information resource for clinical knowledge and improved patient care. Available by subscription.

Wound Care Strategies
Contains products, education and news related to wound care.

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society
Represents an international society of nurses who are experts in the care of patients with wound, ostomy or continence problems.

Wrong Diagnosis
Contains links to symptoms, diseases, diagnosis, videos, tools, misdiagnosis, doctors, hospitals, drugs and articles.

Thank you to Suzanne Arragg, RN, BSN, CDONA/LTC, CLNC; Laura M. Averette, RN, MSN, CPHRM, CLNC; Dale Barnes, RN, MSN, PhN, CLNC; Nikki J. Chuml, RNC, CCE, FMC, CLNC; Larry Frace, RN, CLNC; Margaret Gallagher, RN, BSN, MSN, CLNC; Dorene Goldstein, RNC, CLNC; Sandra Higelin, RN, MSN, CS, CWCN, CLNC; Jane Hurst, RN, CLNC; Camille Joyner, RN, CCM, CLNC and Mildred Mannion, RN, BSN, CNOR, CLNC for sharing the websites they use most to research their legal nurse consulting medical-related cases.

Success Is Inside!

Our CLNC^® Pros deliver their top techniques to boost the efficiency and thoroughness of your medical research.

1. Use only authoritative websites for medical research. Accessing research studies may require a fee which is billable to the attorney.
2. As a member of the NACLNC^® Association, Certified Legal Nurse Consultants have free access to the Internet’s preeminent legal nurse consulting resources including CLNC^® resource links, a peer-reviewed collection of hundreds of the best Internet links on medical, nursing and scientific research.
3. Simplify your medical research with the National Library of Medicine. From this site you can enter MedlinePlus^®, a comprehensive database of article summaries from international medical literature and also search biomedical journal literature from MEDLINE/PubMed.
4. Subscribe to MD Consult and conduct a minimal search for general and specific information. The site contains many authoritative and up-to-date text and journal references. As you review individual journal publications, you can search for more articles on specific topics, instead of starting a new search. This time-saver allows you to cross-reference pertinent literature and identify key search words during your original search. You can even identify literature that is critical of the researchers or their methods, sometimes with notes citing conflicting results from other studies.
5. Screen the case to analyze and prepare a brief overview of the essence of the case. This helps you focus on the relevant injuries, treatment protocols and causation issues when researching.
6. Always review the standards of any pertinent professional organization. You can identify the relevant associations through the Healthcare Standards Directory (HCS) Online. This ensures that you include these standards in your research so you don’t miss professional standards that aren’t found in your online search. For example, for an emergency room case, contact the American Board of Emergency Medicine. For an obstetrical case, contact the National Association of Neonatal Nurses and The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These sites offer a wealth of information. Request the information these associations publish for consumers as well. The references cited in the bibliography of any standards are also useful.
7. Decide whether you want to conduct broadly defined research or narrowly defined research. This will shape the words that you use for your research. For example “GI bleed” is more broad than “stress-related mucosal bleeding manual ventilation.”
8. Keep your beginning search simple, then do a more complex search. Sometimes the simple things are the most pertinent to the case. Don’t make it harder than it has to be. Ask yourself what you really need to find, verify or compare. Recognize when enough is enough. Gain a sense of when you’ve got enough material and move on to applying the research to the case.
9. When searching for a primary subject, such as diabetes, remember to search at the same time for related issues relevant to the case, such as decubitus. This helps you avoid duplicating your efforts later.
10. Always check the bibliography of any journal article for additional research sources. While searching for general information in texts and Internet sources, make a list of the authors who are most widely published or referenced. This list could provide additional literature sources or potential testifying experts.
11. Make note of the medications and medical products used. Then search for any drug interactions or medical device incidents that could have contributed to the case in any way. Systematically reviewing this information keeps you from overlooking any potential product liability issues resulting from defective products. If you need to research a particular drug, or medical device, don’t overlook company sponsored websites.
12. Provide copies of the research articles to the attorney and highlight relevant information in the article to emphasize what is significant and to expedite the attorney’s review.

Thanks to Suzanne Arragg, RN, BSN, CDONA/LTC, CLNC; Laura M. Averette, RN, MSN, CPHRM, CLNC; Dale Barnes, RN, MSN, PhN, CLNC; Nikki J. Chuml, RNC, CCE, FMC, CLNC; Larry Frace, RN, CLNC; Margaret Gallagher, RN, BSN, MSN, CLNC; Dorene Goldstein, RNC, CLNC; Sandra Higelin, RN, MSN, CS, CWCN, CLNC; Jane Hurst, RN, CLNC; Camille Joyner, RN, CCM, CLNC and Mildred Mannion, RN, BSN, CNOR, CLNC for sharing their strategies for researching medical-related cases.

Success Is Inside!