by Elizabeth Rudolph | Jan 5, 2021 | Attorney Communication, Legal Nurse Consulting
I remember chatting with my Mom (of beloved memory) many years back and she said to me “You only have one time to make a good first impression”. She was right! I loved my Mom and I wish we could sit at my kitchen table and talk now.
You want to make, and keep, that good impression.
Think about this one: You were online just “chatting” before the virtual online meeting started. You never thought you were being recorded, did you? What about after the videoconference – when you thought everyone had logged off? You, as a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC), and the attorney you just reviewed the medical records for, stayed on and “just talked”?
You don’t want to get sued for defamation, do you?
During this pandemic, virtual meetings like Zoom, Skype, WebEx, Teams and others have become the norm for PLNCs, attorneys, legal team members, nursing instructors, nursing students, and others. As a matter-of-fact, just about EVERYONE has been in, or witnessed, video participation.
How can YOU avoid these three common virtual meeting mistakes? Know that…
- Every virtual meeting, course, or conference could be recorded. Yep, that’s right. Not just the actual meeting itself, but before and after you enter the meeting. Accept that and proceed accordingly.
- You should “mute” yourself when you’re not talking. No one wants to hear your conversations with others unrelated to the virtual meeting or listen to your background noise. We all have to deal with those distractions ourselves. Focus on the virtual participants.
- Multitasking while in the virtual meeting is a no-no. What if you hit “Screen Share” by mistake and every one of your keystrokes are being observed AND RECORDED? It’s just not worth it. Be a mindful video participant.
Hey, and while you’re at it, be sure you wear appropriate clothing. Remember what my Mom said about giving off that first impression?
Now, go get on your next Zoom call with confidence.
P.S. Apply your existing nursing skills in medical-legal cases here.
by Elizabeth Rudolph | Jul 28, 2020 | Attorney Communication
There are lots of lawsuits out there where a nurse could be involved. As a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC) do you know what types of lawsuits most commonly involve nurses?
Ultimately, almost any lawsuit could involve a nurse, but here are the ones nurses might most often find themselves involved in, so read closely…
Nursing Malpractice: This is a type of “tort” or civil wrong where an injury results allegedly from something the nurse did, or did not do but should’ve done, wrong. Professional Legal Nurse Consultants review medical records for either party in these types of nursing malpractice or negligence lawsuits, but not for both because of ethical reasons.
Criminal law: In criminal law cases the government, whether that be state or federal, brings the charge against the defendant. The goal of criminal law is punishment and deterrence, not monetary compensation usually.
Agency law: This arises out of the legislative branch of government, such as from the State Board of Nursing. For example, a patient can bring a complaint regarding nursing care to the State Board. After following legal procedure, the State Board can discipline nurses, if the State Board prevails over the nurse.
Worse yet, based on facts in a case, a nurse could 1) be a party to the nursing malpractice lawsuit, 2) prosecuted criminally, and 3) have to defend oneself in an agency or disciplinary hearing. Or, these three types of cases could be brought singly.
As a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant, the more you know, the better. Strive to learn as much as you can so you can be the best you can be.
P.S. Comment below about how these three types of cases overlap.
by Elizabeth Rudolph | Jun 9, 2020 | Attorney Communication
As a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC), it’s so important to keep your name front and center with attorneys. Whenever a lawyer needs a Legal Nurse Consultant to review medical records a medical malpractice case, you want that lawyer to think of you first. If you follow these steps, you should likely find yourself swimming in medical records to review.
- Send a simple email. In this day in age, almost all attorneys are reachable by email. In years past, that was unheard of. You’d have to go through their receptionist, then secretary, and even their paralegal. You would never know if the attorney actually received your message. THINGS HAVE CHANGED. The coronavirus pandemic has made attorneys even more accessible because work is being conducted virtually. Take advantage of this change. Craft a short email. Nobody wants to read something long. Your email should contain:
- Your name and short introduction including your nursing background. You need to brand yourself as a PLNC.
- Why you’re emailing. You need to address head on why this attorney should use you to review medical records. For example, “I can help you review medical records in your cases, translate the medical terms used into understandable language, and give you a solid opinion about the nursing care provided.”
- How to reach you. Your signature block must contain your name, credentials including your PLNC credential, your company name if different from your name, phone number, and email address.
- Follow up with a phone call. While email is great, the PLNC who actually takes the time to follow up with a phone to the attorney is in the best position to get the job. Remember, people who know, like, and trust you, are the ones who will employ you. You want to be personable and professional. Write out a short script as it will help you get over the “cold calling” jitters. And, interrupt the negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts that “I Can Do This!”
- Send a follow up email or two or three. If you get the job, then send a thank you email. If it’s still unclear, follow up with an email letting the attorney know how much you enjoyed the conversation. If you don’t get a response, try, try again. Wait a week and follow up again. You know that sometimes even YOU forget to reply to an email. Somehow the email gets pushed further down in the line but that doesn’t necessarily mean the attorney is not interested.
Your professional legal nurse consulting skills are needed and necessary in medical malpractice cases, also known as tort cases. In order for a nursing malpractice case to go to trial, nurse expert witness testimony is required. All the more reason that your nursing skills are needed.
Follow these three steps to grow your Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC) business. It’s as easy as 1,2,3.
P.S. Comment below if you followed these steps with attorneys to get legal nurse consulting business.
