Vickie Milazzo Institute

An email titled Send This to Everyone in New York Who Handles Nursing Malpractice Cases was forwarded to me by one of my attorney-clients. The author was the managing partner of New York City’s largest medical malpractice firm. For the last six years, I had been trying to think of a creative way to get referrals from this firm. Vickie’s blog on intuitive vision was still fresh in my mind. I knew immediately that I had to stop reviewing a complex medical record, put the day’s usual business on hold and focus on this potential opportunity.

This partner described a complex home health care case that had been won by the defense and just reversed by the appellate court. Essentially the court opined that the RN who administered an IV steroid as ordered by the physician was negligent for failing to ensure that epinephrine, which was not ordered by the physician, was available in case the patient experienced anaphylactic shock. I decided to get a little playful and titled my email My Two Cents. I started my opinion in a succinct, professional manner.

To my surprise, the response came in the form of an immediate phone call from the partner himself. My CLNC^® education from Vickie Milazzo Institute prepared me to deliver my two-minute unique selling position (USP). I was thrilled to be invited to discuss my experience with nursing chain-of-command issues at the law firm.

The attorney scheduled a full hour with me prior to the presentation, and after 15 minutes, he called the RN in charge of coordinating nurse expert reviews. He said, “Put Margaret at the top of the list for expert reviews.”

The presentation was attended by 74 attorneys who work solely with medical malpractice cases. Within a week of that presentation, I started to receive referrals and cases.

Acting on my intuition that day not only opened the door to an ongoing opportunity, but also helped me to grow my CLNC^® business even more.

Guest Blogger Profile

Margaret M. Gallagher, RN, BSN, MSN, CLNC has been a staff nurse, RN educator and senior nursing and hospital administrator for over 30 years. She founded Patient Care Executive Consulting in 2004 and became a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant in 2005. She is an assistant professor at Wagner College in Staten Island and has reviewed over 800 medical malpractice cases.

I’m heading to the airport to board our flight home from the 2011 NACLNC^® Conference Cruise. This morning I had my healthy green tea, but what I really needed was a steaming hot cup of coffee with two added shots of espresso. If I didn’t have to be in the office tomorrow I’d probably take a couple of days off to rest up! As far as I know no one made a family member walk the plank so we’re all going home tanned, renewed and ready for another year of CLNC^® success.

I’m sure that some of the True Hollywood Stories you’ll hear about this year’s Conference Cruise will be much funnier (or scarier) than they really were. Tom’s still talking about my experience on the rock-climbing wall and if the hilarious video of him boogie boarding on the FlowRider^® makes it to YouTube — well let’s just say it wasn’t me!

Stay tuned to LegalNurse.com for information on the next NACLNC^® Conference Cruise. See you there! This year’s will be hard to beat. It was a blast – I loved each and every moment!

Success is Inside!

This is it — the final day. It’s hard to believe the 2011 NACLNC^® Conference Cruise is almost over! The past 6 days went by so fast it feels like we just got onboard! Luckily we’ve got another full day of great sessions from the CLNC^® Pros to look forward to before it all ends. I’ve heard nothing but great comments about yesterday’s sessions and can’t wait to edit the audio recordings. I get to hear every speaker in their entirety and bask in their hard-earned success. These speakers work so hard all year long to deliver to you and they sure did! My deepest gratitude goes out to each and every one of you.

After the sessions end, I’m sure everyone will be packing to disembark in Port Canaveral tomorrow.

But before we start thinking about heading home, we get to celebrate the last six days of fun and adventure at our Farewell Reception. We’ll all meet in Studio B at 7:15 and I’m sure there will be some fun, lots of laughter and even a few tears as everyone wishes bon voyage to their newest, oldest friends and CLNC^® colleagues.

Success is Inside!

Today is the big day, although they’ve all been pretty big so far with all the fun things to do. This is our first official classroom day. Now that everyone has turned a nice shade of tan (or bright red) we’ll move the fun into the air conditioning and crank up the PowerPoint^®.

First, I’ve got my opening speech in the Arcadia Theatre, followed by our great sessions from the first group of CLNC^® Pros in the Freedom’s Conference Center. We’ve got two tracks of great topics this year and this is only Day 1! I’ve worked all year long with the speakers and I guarantee you are going to love them.

This evening it’s back to the Arcadia Theatre for CLNC^® Night followed by our networking dinner. I hope everyone gets energized by the day’s classes because tonight’s our final Formal Night — we’ll all be dressed for CLNC^® success! Dancing, casino and who knows what afterwards?

More tomorrow!

I’ve almost lost track of the days. Eat, sleep, have fun and cruise. I could get used to this lifestyle. Of course, I’d have to buy a whole new wardrobe with expandable clothing. There’s more food and opportunities to eat on a cruise ship than should be legal. Tomorrow we’ll all start dieting… NOT!

Today is port day in Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch St. Maarten. The town has lots of traditional West Indian architecture and lots of pastel-color homes. Tom wants to check out the historic forts; I’m just interested in getting in a good walk around the island and then spending the afternoon having a cool tropical drink in a shady café listening to a steel-drum band.

I’m sure the CLNC^® consultants will find plenty to do with shopping, touring and great excursions. For those of you back in the States, happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Please have a green beer for Tom and a glass of healthy red wine for me.

More tomorrow!

Today we’re docked in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas. I’m in search of real pirates under the guise of checking out the local architecture. All that research I did on pirates for my opening speech got into my head and now I’m seeing them everywhere.

I’m sure I’ll be seeing CLNC^® consultants all over St. Thomas today. I can already tell which ones are feeling the technology deprivation. They’re the ones who at dinner last night were reminding everyone to make sure their cell phones are charged for today. More than a few Certified Legal Nurse Consultants were bugging the ship’s purser about the locations of Internet cafes so they could get caught up on email and Facebook. Speaking of Facebook, I’ll try to post some photos from the first couple of days of the Cruise and will post the rest after we get back next week. That is if I don’t take a nap!

Courtesy of Tom, here are a couple of interesting historical notes: a number of the streets here in Charlotte Amalie are made from bricks that were brought from Denmark as ballast in the holds of the merchant ships. They made a one-way trip and someone finally figured out what to do with them. The town itself has a natural deep-water port which made it very popular with merchants, pirates and today cruise ships. My biggest surprise – Camille Pissarro, one of the fathers of French Impressionism, was born here.

After the tour and history lesson I’m thinking of going back and spending the day in the ship’s spa! I’ll have to check with the local authorities before we sail to see if any CLNC^® consultants need me to help them make bail or carry their duty-free purchases onboard.

Tonight all that’s on is the NACLNC^® Networking Dinner so I might find time to lay low and spend time with my opening speech. Arrgghh!

More tomorrow!

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!