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Legal Nurse Consultant Success Story

CLNC® Success Story: A Day in the Life of CLNC Consultant Susan Schaab

For more than 20 years I worked as a staff nurse, and although the type of facility and specialty changed many times the work did not. Every day I had a narrow window of time when I was allowed to clock in or out. I am habitually on time (meaning I have to get to work about 10-15 minutes early or I am late), so periodically I would get a reprimand for clocking in too early. Then there was the constant scrambling and juggling to complete my work and documentation or be dinged for too much overtime. Somewhere along the line, I managed to stay organized and punctual while delivering great patient care, but the fun of nursing would always be sapped from my job. Then I found the Institute and life as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.

As my own boss, I never get reprimanded for getting to work too early, putting in too many hours on cases or building my CLNC business. I can work, or not work, as my case load requires. Although I do stay organized and try to maintain a daily schedule, each day is gloriously flexible and my own!

As menopause starts, and sleeping is sometimes uncomfortable (hot flashes under thick Montana blankets are never pleasant), I occasionally find myself researching cases at strange hours. The Internet is always open and accessible, and surfing for new articles is really fun at 3:00am. The flexibility I have as a legal nurse consultant is amazing. I save my research in a reading list and dive into them later (it is easier to do a serious analysis in daylight). Several of my female attorney-clients understand this as I have received a few emails from them at around 2:00am. No, I don’t answer until later as that could lead to some groggy conversations. It always makes me smile to think I am earning $125/hr in my pjs in the middle of the night.

My peak productivity hours are saved for case analysis and report writing. I crank up Pandora® for background music (no lyrics since singing along to 90s pop tends to send me off track and off key!) and can easily put in 3-5 hours without moving from my chair. After seven years as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant I am still amazed at how easy and enjoyable consulting with attorneys is. I get lost in my cases and am energized by them. I never felt that energy at the hospital unless it was an adrenaline rush from a delivery going bad, which was exciting but never fun. The flexibility that legal nurse consulting affords me is truly a blessing.

I find that exercise is important to relieve my aching butt muscles and get my juices flowing again, so early afternoon is my time to get outside or go to the gym. I take a couple of hours daily to hike, run or ski in the mountains.

Montana has short, amazingly beautiful summers and everyone is outside hiking, biking, running, fishing and hunting. One benefit of living in a small town is that I frequently see my attorney-clients. I have had many impromptu meetings while on a bike, or while training for a 10K. Recently two of these meetings brought me my most recent case.

As a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant my workstyle is completely flexible and completely my own. My days are typically filled with interesting cases and attorney-clients, healthy exercise and the ability to work as hard as I want… or not!

Guest Blogger Profile

Susan Schaab, RN, BSN, CLNC, is the owner of Schaab Consulting in Montana. She consults on medical malpractice, personal injury and products liability cases for both plaintiff and defense firms.

P.S. Comment here to congratulate Susan on her CLNC success.

P.P.S. Read more CLNC Success Stories and send your CLNC Success Story to [email protected].

7 thoughts on “CLNC® Success Story: A Day in the Life of CLNC Consultant Susan Schaab

  1. Hi Susan,

    I read your story and certainly could relate!! I too worked in an acute care hospital for 20 years and left it to become a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. I have been working full time as a CLNC® since 2001 and have enjoyed most every day of it.

    Thank you for sharing!

    Penny Watkins, RN, BSN, PHN, CLNC
    Legal Nurse Consultants of So. Calif.

  2. While I work towards my first case I am working diligently to build those personal relationships necessary to build my CLNC® business. I do like your ideas of the 5k training.

  3. Susan my friend, you have come a long way. I know how interesting it is to work in a low population state as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. I enjoyed working with you and am excited for you and your CLNC® success. I have taken every tip you gave me to get me to the next level. Thanks for sharing your awesome story.

  4. I loved the comment about getting dinged for clocking in early!! Ditto!! I am looking forward to earning my CLNC® certification in September. Stories like yours keep me motivated and excited. Keep up the good work! Jenny

  5. While I am just a month into the Online CLNC® Certification program I am always excited about the prospect of how my new career will go. I am working full-time and punching that time clock.
    Reading what you and so many others write continues to fuel the drive to reach the end of the course and to get my CLNC® Certification.
    I too live in a small community. Mine is in Colorado. I can only hope I can find local attorney-clients and build wonderful working relationships as you have.
    Thank you for the inspirational blog.

  6. Hi Susan – Thanks so much for sharing your inspirational story! I am so excited and happy for you. Keep up the good work.

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*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.

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