In this video, CLNC® consultant, Ashley Moreau shares her Success Story as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. She explains how her CLNC business provides the flexibility to take care of what is important, while still making a difference in her nursing career.
CLNC® Consultant Ashley Moreau Shares How Her CLNC Business Provides the Flexibility to Take Care of What Is Important
Video – Ashley Moreau, RN-F, BSN, CCS, CLNC
Vickie: I’d like to introduce you to Certified Legal Nurse Consultant Ashley Moreau, RN-F, BSN, CCS, CLNC. Ashley thank you so much for joining me here today.
Ashley: Thank you for having me Vickie.
Vickie: I want to start with what motivated you to become a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.
Ashley: I’ve been a nurse for about 17 years. My motivation was to come out of the facilities and not have the dramas of management and the hours of working in a facility that contains really toxic environments. I want to control my own environment. My motivation was to come out.
Vickie: So you were looking to create something different, more on your terms and create a career that you felt more satisfied with.
Ashley: Absolutely!
Vickie: That’s very similar to many RNs who get into legal nurse consulting. Was it something that was easy for you to think about doing or did you have fears that you had to overcome, and if yes, how did you do that?
Ashley: There were a lot of fears of the unknown – if I would actually be successful, if I would have to return to a facility. I think everyone really goes through that panic stage. But if you want it enough, you’ll make the plans and make it happen. And that’s what I did. I put a plan in place. I took the classes from LegalNurse.com. I stayed at my job for another 18 months so I could save money. That was part of my plan. I wanted to save enough money so that when I did quit, I had time to put my CLNC plans in place, start my business and start earning money from that business, rather than big money from the old job.
Vickie: You’re saying a couple of things. First, what I heard you say is you were afraid, but you just started putting this plan into action. I always say that the best way to overcome fear is just to get yourself in motion and do something. That’s such a great way to overcome fears, because as you’re saying, we all have fears. Everybody does, it’s a normal human emotion. In fact, sometimes it’s not a negative thing to be afraid because it pushes you to pursue that business in the right way and in a thoughtful way. Essentially, as you said, one of your fears was you didn’t want to have to go back to the hospital and that made you think thoughtfully about “How am I going to pursue this business?” You said that you did eventually quit your day job. Are you working full-time?
Ashley: Yes. I have been since that time. I haven’t been in a facility as an employee since 2021.
Vickie: What types of cases do you handle?
Ashley: I try to only advertise for nursing home cases. I will take other cases, but I will subcontract cases that are not my area of expertise. My expertise is in nursing homes, so I will take those cases. I will advertise for those cases and if the attorney that I already have has a different type of case, or one calls me, I will find a subcontractor. That way, they’re still my clients.
Vickie: Are you subcontracting with other CLNC Consultants?
Ashley: I am.
Vickie: Fantastic! For those listening, in the CLNC Certification Program, one of the things we address is how to get involved in those cases that are outside of your specialty and how to subcontract with other Certified Legal Nurse Consultants. How did you get that first client?
Ashley: Actually, my first client found me on the NACLNC® Directory. I didn’t even realize that my name was on there already and he found me and called me out just out of the blue. He wasn’t an attorney for nursing home cases. He was an employment attorney that had a case that had a smidgen to do with healthcare. Other than that it had nothing to do with health at all.
Vickie: It’s so important again, what you’re saying is such an important lesson for all beginners. Those first cases are not always what you think they’re going to be. Having that openness to thinking, “Maybe this is not within my specialty, but how can I still get involved? Is it something I can handle myself or do I need to subcontract with someone else?” As you’re saying, when you’re subcontracting, those attorneys are still your clients and you’re actually making money off of that person who’s doing the work. It’s another great way to expand your business. You consult full time, independently. What are some of the traits that you believe really contributed to your success?
Ashley: Having an open mind and being the “yes man” to the attorney when it’s not your type of case and saying, “Yes, I can find somebody that will work that case.” Doing what they ask of you. Giving them correct information. Don’t mislead them. If they don’t have a case, let them know upfront. They don’t want to look like a fool and you don’t either, so let them know upfront and give them the facts. Being personable is important. If you’re going to an attorney’s office look around the office. If you see pictures of their dog or their family, mention it. They’re humans too, so make that connection right there, bring it up. I don’t call them repeatedly, I call them maybe once a month to see if they need anything or catch up, but I don’t waste their time. I don’t stop by the office unannounced. I will if they’re somebody that I want to work with, but not somebody that I have been working with because it takes time away from their job, so I don’t disrupt them. If they’re someone that I want to meet, I will go and talk to the gatekeeper (their assistant) and try to get a feel for what’s a good time for me to stop by if they can’t see me right then. So just being personable, being willing to talk to them and give good information.
Vickie: I think it’s a given that you’re there to give your expertise to the case. You’ve got to produce that quality work product, but as you’re suggesting it goes beyond that, and you described really wanting to provide a good service and being available to those attorneys when they really need you.
Ashley: Absolutely!
Vickie: What do you love about your business?
Ashley: Flexibility. When I had my other job and I was working in facilities, I didn’t get to stay home with the kids when they were sick. I didn’t get to go on vacation when I wanted to go; it had to be approved. So I like the flexibility that my kids don’t go to daycare anymore. My kids have their mom when they’re sick. I can go on vacation when I want to. And I don’t have management dictating ethics to me. I have my own ethics, my own morals and I can be guided by that rather than by management.
Vickie: In a way you’ve already mentioned some ways it’s changed your life with flexibility and being able to do things more on your terms. For example, I take for granted not having to ask someone to take a vacation and I have to remind myself that nurses typically have to get approval and you might not get dates you want. But what other ways has owning your own business changed your life?
Ashley: I feel that I am more successful on these terms having my own business. I like the idea, and I know all nurses care, well the majority care, that’s why they got into the field. But when you’re working in a facility, unless you are in high management you don’t really have the opportunity to change anything. You can’t make things better; you can’t change policy. With the jobs that I’m doing right now, I can guide those policies and I can make things better for the geriatric population. Whereas in the facility I never was able to do that.
Vickie: It’s fascinating to me that you mentioned this because I’ve always shared with the students and the classes I’ve taught that I felt like I had more impact on healthcare outside of healthcare facilities than inside the health care facilities, and in a way that’s exactly what you’re describing.
Ashley: Right.
Vickie: Ashley, what is your definition of success?
Ashley: Success to me is a combination of taking care of what I think is important, which is my family, financially being able to take care of them as well as physically and the idea of me still being in my career path and making a difference.
Vickie: That’s such a great definition. Thank you so much Ashley and more success to you.
Ashley: Thank you so much for having me.
Click here for success story ideas.