CLNC® Pros Share How to Start a Part-Time Legal Nurse Consulting Business

Choosing to become a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant doesn’t have to be an all or nothing decision. In fact, most CLNC® consultants start part time. I’ve asked the CLNC Pros to share their recommendations for starting part time while balancing a full-time RN job. Here’s how they made it work…

What do you recommend for RNs starting a part-time legal nurse consulting business while managing a full-time RN job?

“Be consistent in creating business practices that become part of your weekly routine, such as dedicating time 2-3 times per week toward your part-time CLNC business. Remember to also set aside some free time to recuperate. You will not be successful in either your full-time RN job or your legal nurse consulting business if you burn yourself out. While it’s okay to step back to regain balance, it’s equally important to eliminate frequent disruptions that distract you from your CLNC future.”

– Jorie Akins, RN, BSN, TNCC, ECRN, CLNC

“Set aside time to work on your part-time CLNC business regularly. Vickie emphasizes the importance of doing something every day toward your goals. Set priorities, such as setting up the business and developing a marketing plan. Set and meet deadlines. I have stayed up until midnight or cancelled evening plans to meet a deadline. When you meet deadlines, it shows your commitment to your CLNC business and ultimately your attorney-clients. Find a CLNC buddy you can talk with regularly. It’s so encouraging. Remember to use the CLNC Mentoring and the Live Mentoring and Networking Sessions with Vickie and the CLNC Mentors.”

– Marcia Bell, RN, BSN, CAPA, CLNC

“Take one action step daily. As Vickie stresses in the CLNC Certification Program, this single habit will contribute to your success.”

– Kaylin Chase, RN, BSN, CNLCP, CLNC

“When I became certified as a CLNC consultant I was working full-time nights at the hospital. I broke tasks down into small steps and focused on my days off to be productive. If you want something bad enough you make it work. Within three months of completing my certification, I landed my first interview and a short time after that I went part-time at the hospital.”

– Dorene Goldstein, RNC, BSN, CLNC

“When juggling a part-time legal nurse consulting business with a full-time RN job, plus personal and family life, it’s imperative that you focus your time and energy. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. Start with a clear understanding of where you are going and focus on your most important priorities. Schedule the big and important tasks and execute them. Avoid procrastination.”

– Sandra Higelin, RN, MSN, CNS, CWCN, CLNC

“When starting part-time as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant, it’s a good idea to keep your current RN job to maintain a steady income while building your CLNC business.”

– Camille Joyner, RN, BSN, CCM, CLNC

What are your tips for juggling and balancing a part-time legal nurse consulting business and an RN job?

1. “Create a vision board so you can visually see the goals you’re trying to accomplish. This helps you stay motivated and on track.
2. Network with other Certified Legal Nurse Consultants. Connecting with like-minded RNs inspires motivation and opens the door to priceless resources.
3. Listen to LegalNurse.com’s educational sessions while driving to work. This simple practice kept me mindful of best practices while at the bedside and kept me thinking like a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.
4. Realize the magnitude of what you are setting out to accomplish. You’re investing in your future. Each hour you spend puts you one step closer to creating a life with limitless opportunities.
5. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and just be grateful.”

– Jorie Akins, RN, BSN, TNCC, ECRN, CLNC

1. “Make a To-Do list for your CLNC business. Update the list weekly or daily as needed.
2. Connect with people who are supportive of your time and your new business venture.
3. When requested to attend a meeting with an attorney, do what you have to do at your RN job to make that schedule work. For example, switch days with a coworker.
4. As your CLNC business grows, consider working part time at your RN job to focus more time on your CLNC business.”

– Marcia Bell, RN, BSN, CAPA, CLNC

1. “Take one action step daily no matter how tired you are.
2. Create a vision board for your ultimate goals.
3. Network with attorneys and other contacts regularly. Don’t get lost in the daily routines.
4. Provide an outstanding work product.
5. Say YES to opportunities even if they are frightening.”

– Kaylin Chase, RN, BSN, CNLCP, CLNC

1. “Create a schedule that your family can see.
2. Commit to doing a small step every day for your CLNC business.
3. Get help for tasks you don’t have to do yourself, such as housekeeping and bookkeeping.
4. Make time for yourself. Self-care goes a long way.
5. Keep going until you get the results that you want.”

– Dorene Goldstein, RNC, BSN, CLNC

1. “Plan around your RN job’s work schedule. Detail the days you are going to work on your CLNC business and include the action steps you are going to complete each day.
2. Manage both jobs effectively to keep some order to the various tasks and deadlines each job demands of you.
3. Focus on each task at hand instead of juggling several tasks. It’s hard to avoid multi-tasking, but doing a little here, a little there and never completing anything significant results in an exercise of futility. Complete something every day.
4. Don’t overextend yourself. Be alert to how much you can handle. If you can’t complete everything on your task list, work through the three most important tasks and leave the rest for the next day. And remember to take time for yourself.
5. Stay positive. Don’t wrap yourself up in the story that you have too much to do and you’ll never get it done. Instead wrap yourself up in the satisfaction you will feel as you complete each task and reach your goals.”

– Sandra Higelin, RN, MSN, CNS, CWCN, CLNC

1. “Work your primary RN job during the hours that allow for decent rest and enough free time to work on your CLNC business.
2. As your part-time CLNC business grows, reduce the hours at your primary RN job.
3. Consider working for an agency as you scale back from your primary RN job.”

– Camille Joyner, RN, BSN, CCM, CLNC

How did you make managing a part-time legal nurse consulting business and a full-time RN job work for you?

“I’ve always had a deep-seated passion to succeed. I’m not afraid of working hard, working long hours or doing jobs that other people avoid to achieve success. Life is difficult and things don’t always turn out as planned. However, I have always believed if you just keep taking even the smallest of steps, life will reward your persistence and faithfulness. Going off the path to walk on the road less traveled is not for everyone. It has uncertainties and its own unique set of challenges, but it can also be extremely rewarding and provide opportunities that are beyond what you could ever expect.”

– Jorie Akins, RN, BSN, TNCC, ECRN, CLNC

“While many Certified Legal Nurse Consultants don’t testify, I like doing so. I have created my life to include both my RN job and my legal nurse consulting business. I enjoy both the testifying expert work and the consulting expert work. In my state, if I want to be an expert witness, I have to be clinically active and not spend more than 25% of my professional time preparing for testimony in medical-legal cases. This means I can review as many cases as I want as a consulting expert. My consulting expert work is nursing according to my nurse practice act. I am reviewing and summarizing medical records. This is a part of the 75% of my professional time. Only when I have been designated as an expert and I am writing a report as an expert or preparing for a deposition or trial is that time designated as expert witness time.”

– Marcia Bell, RN, BSN, CAPA, CLNC

“Greatness is on the other side of fear! As Vickie says, ‘We Can Do Anything.’ We are nurses with critical thinking skills. Daily I break up my legal nurse consulting business into small steps. Then I accomplish each step throughout the day. I often listen to Vickie in my head ‘Kaylin, You Can Do Anything.’ I have overcome fears and negative self-thinking. The more I do, the more I learn, the more I can do. It’s a great adventure, and I am making new friends every day.”

– Kaylin Chase, RN, BSN, CNLCP, CLNC

“I had people in my life who doubted that I would be successful. Being a competitive person, these doubters pushed me even harder. Also, the power of positive thinking is real and If you believe that you can achieve something you will!”

– Dorene Goldstein, RNC, BSN, CLNC

“I knew in my soul that becoming a legal nurse consultant was my pathway to opportunity and freedom. The first thing I did was take LegalNurse.com’s CLNC Certification Program. I followed the Program’s steps to success and learned to work smarter, not harder. I also studied Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Powerful People and incorporated his guidance into my daily practice. I have participated in many of the Institute’s educational programs over the years to help keep me on track and to network with other Certified Legal Nurse Consultants.

From the very beginning of my career to this day I utilize Vickie’s 5 Promises for Success:

1. ‘I will live and work a passionate life.
2. I will go for it or reject it outright.
3. I will take one action step a day toward my passionate vision.
4. I commit to being a success student for life.
5. I believe as a nurse I really can do anything.’”

– Sandra Higelin, RN, MSN, CNS, CWCN, CLNC

“I began my CLNC business while still employed full-time (day shift, no weekends) at the hospital. I really loved my job and had a great boss! However, to get me to make the change, my very wise husband took on a management position at the company where he flew for an Air Force contractor. The additional salary was exactly what I earned at my RN job. So, I resigned and went into consulting full time. Within 18 months, I had caught up with my old salary. My husband then went back to just flying planes for a living and playing golf the rest of the time.”

– Camille Joyner, RN, BSN, CCM, CLNC

Thanks to Jorie Akins, RN, BSN, TNCC, ECRN, CLNC, Marcia Bell, RN, BSN, CAPA, CLNC, Kaylin Chase, RN, BSN, CNLCP, CLNC, Dorene Goldstein, RNC, BSN, CLNC, Sandra Higelin, RN, MSN, CNS, CWCN, CLNC and Camille Joyner, RN, BSN, CCM, CLNC for sharing their recommendations on how to become a part-time Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.

Success Is Yours,

Vickie L. Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD

P.S. Comment and share your recommendations for RNs starting a part-time legal nurse consulting business while managing a full-time RN job.