Although I loved working as a registered nurse, becoming the proud owner of two pretty blue titanium rods in my back made 12-hour shifts tough to manage, and being on call 24/7 was no longer possible. I tried it for four months before admitting I had to make a change
As a child, I had Lyme Disease, then in 2004, I was bitten by another tick. Terrible timing, since I’d just gotten married. My symptoms were across the chart, from severe fatigue to periodic paralysis on one side of my body. My husband couldn’t handle his wife not walking, not being perfect, so he left, and we divorced. A couple of years later, I made it to an Iron Man finish line, so I guess the joke’s on him.
As a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant I consult and assist acute general inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) with Medicare Part A appeals. It is somewhat different from working on medical malpractice or personal injury cases. Although I do work with the corporate facility attorneys, once a case escalates it goes to the level of an administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing.
After I became a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant I built my attorney-client base from one to four attorney-clients while still working at the hospital. Many weeks I worked 10-15 hours of overtime at my RN job in the ambulatory surgery department. And while this added to my checking account, I felt physically drained, mentally bored and definitely not in control of my nursing career. My CLNC business suffered because my hospital job took priority.
Because I work part time as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant, there are days in which I am not involved in my CLNC business. On those days I may be caring for or visiting with my four grandchildren, reading for pleasure or reading to keep up with medical and nursing advances, gardening or exercising, volunteering as a coordinator of pastoral visitors at a hospital, involved with church-related activities, enjoying activities with my husband or visiting with friends.
Certified Legal Nurse Consultant Divina Apolinario, RN, CLNC shares the importance of networking with everyone, including an ex-boyfriend who’s an attorney. That ex came in handy by giving her a referral and the inside track to three other attorneys!
My mother and grandmother were both nurses, so I was third-generation. In my 23rd year as a nurse, I started wondering what was next. Single, with grown-up children, I was free to take the next step. And I knew I wanted to go back to school – maybe get my masters or become a nurse anesthetist, but nothing inspired me.
What I like best about being a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant is I do not have a typical day or week for that matter. My days are flexible depending on what I need to get done. Some days I choose not to log any hours at all and relax by the pool, while other days I start at 9:00am sitting in my home office working on cases. I usually sit and work for about two hours at a time and then I take a break.
Certified Legal Nurse Consultant Paula Solipaca, RN, CLNC shares that she has four attorneys waiting for her to obtain CLNC Certification. They can’t wait to start sending their medical-related cases to her!
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 Vickie and life as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.
*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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