by Elizabeth Rudolph | Nov 23, 2021 | Inspiration, Legal Nurse Consulting
You’ve just earned a UNIQUE certification, which means…You are UNIQUELY-Qualified to fulfill your PURPOSE! PURPOSE means to you’ll rise up and meet the challenge. Take HOLD of your PURPOSE!
Many seek their heart and answers…to FIND their PURPOSE. Y O U now have that GIFT and those Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC) SKILLS.
Be INSPIRED about your PURPOSE!
Today’s Job Market equates SPECIFIC SKILLS to: Having…an EDGE! A step HIGHER! Remember…before anything ELSE…Take a MOMENT to reflect on what YOU now OFFER! It’s WITHIN you – and will INSPIRE you, when you REACH INside.
After Dreaming about YOUR PURPOSE…it is time to:
ON-Purpose: LIVE YOUR Dream!
Reflect on these INSPIRED quotes:
“Look and you will find it-what is unsought will go undetected.”…Sophocles
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”…Marcus Aurelius (121-180)
FOCUS on your PLNC Career
WHERE YOU FOCUS your eyes…To that Level…YOU will Rise! FOCUS suddenly DAWNS on YOU…When You SHAKE-OFF: Your Yesterday and Your Tomorrow…AND JUST…FOCUS on RIGHT NOW.
ON-PURPOSE…Open WIDE: Your EYES and simply ALLOW YOURself to: Be IN the PRESENT Moment. You will be glad YOU did.
BREATHE IN D E E PL Y, and ONLY Think about this GIFT…called: YOUR PLNC Certification!
Reflect on these FOCUSED quotes:
“People only see what they are prepared to see”…Emerson, Ralph Waldo
“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”…Confucius
Be ready to RISE!
YOU’VE r e f l e c t e d on your PURPOSE and your FOCUS.Now it’s TIME TO: RISE!
RISING and PUTTING your P L A N into ACTION N O W is…v i t a l. The L O N G E R you WAIT…to Rise-UP and L I V E YOUR skills and talents…the HARDER it is to o f f e r YOUR gift. Even WHEN you R E A L L Y want to…it is E A S Y to find distractions.
Like…getting BACK on-TRACK after I N D U L G I N G in: UNhealthy UNnutritious UNsightly food in our INsides. There is not a P E R F E C T time. Just like…there are no PERFECT people.
SO…to stay on Y O U R track in YOUR life…take a DEEP breath, S H A R E your BEST smile –
A N D…
*Be INSPIRED about your PURPOSE…
*CATCH that FOCUS..
So…NOW Y O U are
*READY to RISE.
“If you can imagine it you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”…William Arthur Ward
“Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.”…Henry David Thoreau
P.S. Are you ready to thrive as a PLNC?
by Elizabeth Rudolph | Nov 16, 2021 | Evaluating Cases, Legal Nurse Consulting
I want to make a difference. I want to help others. These are reasons we often tell ourselves why we go into nursing. These are the exact same reasons to become a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC). You take your nursing skills, combine them with the legal skills you’ll learn in your PLNC Certification Course, and viola, you are ready to make a difference and help others!
How, you ask, can a PLNC make a difference and help others? The answer is simple: review medical records and give your opinion.
Your nursing opinions counts. Your nursing experience counts. When you put together your nursing experience with acquired legal know-how, you instantly have the credibility you need to be successful as a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC).
Let’s break this down in pieces.
You become a nurse. You work as a nurse. No set number of years or practice areas matter. It just matters that you’re a nurse and have worked as one.
Gnawing at you may be your desire to help. To do something that matters in this world. That was this one nurse’s reason to get PLNC certified.
This nurse, let’s call her, Abby, loved to watch courtroom dramas on TV. Abby envisioned herself as a nurse but her long-term dream was to be a lawyer. While she didn’t want to go through the rigors of further schooling, she wanted to do more with her nursing degree. Abby was struggling to pay her bills yet wanted to make her mark in life. She asked herself how she could do it being a nurse? She had to go on in her schooling, even if the going was going to be tough.
Bit by bit, step by baby step, Abby pressed on. She did an internet search, asked around, and found the legal nurse consultant program that fit her needs. One that was thorough, affordable, and able to be completed 100% online. One that had an unlimited mentoring program. One that was recognized in the field as the preeminent Professional Legal Nurse Consultant program.
Abby selected Jurex Center for Legal Nurse Consultants and never looked back. In two days, she completed the online PLNC Certification Course and immediately added the PLNC credential to her signature. She framed her beautiful PLNC Certification certificate and hung it on her bedroom wall. She was proud. She was happy. She did it.
Now, she wanted to review medical records for others. Abby hooked up with a Plaintiffs’ law firm in her town and reviewed her first medical record. Got paid. Reviewed her second medical record. Got paid. And on and on it went.
Looking back now as a successful Professional Legal Nurse Consultant, Abby is so happy she did it one step at a time. She attained success. She pressed forward even when she doubted herself.
Abby accomplished her goal to make a difference and to help others. Interestingly, it’s still her goal as she continues on her beautiful journey.
P.S. How can you make a difference in the lives of others?
by Elizabeth Rudolph | Nov 4, 2021 | Legal Nurse Consulting, Legal Terminology
The court system is a tangled web and we will untangle it for you.
There are two court systems: federal and state. As a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC), you’ll most likely be dealing with cases in the state court system. While the court systems vary from state to state, the overarching similarity is that there are three levels. The courts may each be called something different depending upon the state, though.
State Court Systems
Trial Court: This is the entry point for lawsuits. Depending upon the facts and alleged damages, it will determine exactly in which court the lawsuit will be filed. Examples of trial courts are circuit court, chancery court, superior court, general sessions court, environmental court, criminal court, etc.
Appellate Court: This the next level of courts. If a plaintiff or defendant wants to appeal the lower court’s decision, it’ll be to the appellate court. An example of an appellate court is a court of appeal.
Supreme Court: This is the highest level of courts. Remember, the exact name of the court may be different depending upon the state. An example of a supreme court is the (State name) Supreme Court.
Federal Court Systems
District Court: The district court is the trial court in the federal system. A district court may serve a city and surrounding areas. An example of the district court is United States District Court for (State Name) for the Western District.
Circuit Court: This is the court of appeal which usually serves several neighboring states. An example of the circuit court is the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Supreme Court of the United States: This is the highest-level court in the land. It’s called the Supreme Court of the United States.
How Cases Proceed Through the Court System
If a person, or entity, is ready to file a lawsuit, their Complaint must be filed in the appropriate court. The first decision is where to file it: state or federal court. There are certain requirements for filing in state or federal court that must be met. Failure to meet them could result in a dismissal. It’s imperative to know the filing requirements prior to filing a case.
Once the case is filed in the right court, discovery begins. This is when depositions can be taken, interrogatories are served, requests for production of documents are also served, and all manner of requests are made of the opposing parties.
When the case is set for trial will usually determine the deadline for discovery. The trial date could be near or far, but at least there is, potentially, an end date.
There are motions filed and argued in advance of trial. The outcome of the motions determines the course of the case. If the case proceeds to trial, there will be a prevailing party.
Either side can appeal the decision of the trial court, but it is usually the losing party who appeals.
After required documents are filed with the appellate court, the justices will decide the outcome. There may or may not be oral argument.
Depending upon the case, the litigant(s) may or may not be able to appeal the case to the highest- level court.
This primer should help you navigate the complex court systems.
P.S. What’s the name of your trial court?
by Elizabeth Rudolph | Oct 21, 2021 | Legal Nurse Consulting, Marketing
When you think about owning your own Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC) business, it gets you EXCITED! It should. As a nurse, you should be in control of your own nursing career. Stocking and decorating your home office is both fun and exciting. Think about getting the following pieces of equipment. You don’t need a lot to get started after obtaining your Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC) Certification.
A good home office will have essential items for keeping your PLNC business successful. There are, of course, costs associated with the purchase of office equipment. Therefore, you should be mindful of the most important things you need. Depending on your financial situation, you may decide to gradually build upon the equipment in your home office. Again, it is up to you to decide what is essential for your home office; the following is a list of some of the things you might consider:
HOME OFFICE EQUIPMENT
- Computer – MAC or PC does not make a difference. It’s really what you feel most comfortable with. You may choose to use a laptop as opposed to a desktop computer. A laptop will afford you the luxury of working away from home or perhaps at a client’s office when they cannot provide office or equipment space to you. Computer Modem – This will help you connect to the internet when WIFI is otherwise unavailable. You may even decide to purchase a WIFI hot spot.
- Computer Software – Choose computer software that will allow you to create a variety of documents such as Word, PDFs, Excel, and Invoices. Microsoft Office is one such software that allows this. Weigh your options before purchasing.
- Printer/Scanner/Copier/Fax Machine – There are many printers that have multiple functions. Getting an all-in-one printer/scanner/copier/fax machine will likely save you time and money.
- Mobile phone – Get the latest and greatest. You don’t want to have to keep replacing your mobile phone. When clients want to reach, you need to be able to accept their phone calls, emails, and/or texts.
- Website – Setting up a company website is a good marketing tool! There are many companies that offer quick, easy website setups that look nice. Depending on the amount of money you have to spend, you may also wish to go with a professional web designer to create a site for you.
- File Cabinet/Files – Information can be stored on a computer, but it is good archival practice to back up all data on a disk or have paper copies.
- Business Cards – Tried but true – these small pieces of paper are also a great marketing tool and direct clients to all the information on your business. Be sure the layout, color, font, and design is professional. Don’t forget to add your Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC) Certification credential. It’ll lend you credibility.
Decide what you want and what you need to get started and to stay successful. You’re in control of your own Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC) destiny.
P.S. What home office equipment did you decide to get?
by Elizabeth Rudolph | Sep 1, 2021 | Inspiration, Legal Nurse Consulting
You want to do something more with your nursing skills, but you’re not sure what. You want to do something more with your life, but you’re not entirely sure what would make you happy (and earn you money). Who do you listen to?
Here’s the best advice I ever received: Do something. Take one step in the direction you want to go even if you’re unsure. Even if you’re not 100% positive. Just go. Go forward in the direction you BELIEVE will take you forward.
I owe this way of thinking to my grandmother of blessed memory. Gaga. She told me, after my mother passed away when I was quite young, “Throw your heart over the bar, and your body will follow”. Gaga was a sage. Gaga had street sense. Gaga had a beautiful heart. Gaga had what it took to survive in a post-Depression era world and beyond.
I loved Gaga.
Listen up nurses and Professional Legal Nurse Consultants: “Do something”.
Stop asking yourself how you’re going to accomplish the task. DO the task.
The “why” is more important than the “how”. You can ask others “how” to accomplish your dreams, your goals, your end-game. But, you have to know “why” you want it to begin with.There are so many temptations out there. Distractions. People, or things, that will take you off course. Stay the course.
It’ll become more clear. Don’t look back. Look forward in the direction you want to go.
Let’s look at this example. You’re a Registered Nurse. You graduated nursing school which was no small feat. Then, you took and passed the National Boards and you’re licensed. That’s another huge accomplishment. But, you want to do something more. Get your PROFESSIONAL LEGAL NURSE CONSULTANT (PLNC) CERTIFICATION!!
I did. I’m so happy I went further in my career AND used my nursing skills to achieve it. You can, too!
YOU can fast track your nursing career. You can combine nursing with the law.
You’re already reading medical records. Earn money doing it as a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant.
No matter what you want to accomplish, you need to heed Gaga’s advice. Take the step. Stop holding your own self back. There’re are plenty of people out there who’ll hold you back. People who don’t want change, and certainly don’t want you to change.
Keeping the status quo must seem easier, but it’s not. You’re yearning for more. You deserve more.
If you stay doing what you’re doing, you definitely will NOT attain your dreams. Step out a tiny bit and reap the rewards.
I did. You can. Take one tiny step.
Stop telling yourself “I can’t” and tell yourself “I can”. You can do one thing right now to advance your career.
Others have done it. You can, too.
What’s the best advice I ever received? Thanks to Gaga, I’m doing right now. I’m “doing something” that I want and loving it.
Thank you, Gaga, for your wisdom, for your love, and being our special grandmother.
P.S. Let us know what you think.
by Elizabeth Rudolph | Aug 3, 2021 | Attorney Communication, Legal Nurse Consulting
Look no further. There’re all kinds of potential employers of Professional Legal Nurse Consultants (PLNC). You decide which employer is best for you and your lifestyle. That’s another added benefit of being certified as a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant!
TYPES OF EMPLOYERS
Work from home independently. If you are already holding down a job as a full-time nurse, and are looking for revenue to supplement your income, working independently from home is a great direction to go in because it affords you the luxury to create your own hours. An independent PLNC is an individual who has good organizational and time management skills.
Independent PLNCs usually work with attorneys and law firms. You determine your hourly billing rate. Remember, you’ll still have some nonbillable tasks such as bookkeeping and keeping your files up to date.
You might decide to work as a PLNC full-time. In that case, you’ll have other factors to consider such as purchasing health care insurance, perhaps employing others such as a virtual assistant, and increase in equipment costs.
Insurance companies. PLNCs working for insurance companies usually work for claims representatives or adjusters. They work in concert with the adjuster or claims representative. They also work with an attorney hired by the insurance company to litigate a particular case. Many insurance companies look for nurses who have been certified and/or have experience reviewing medical records.
Law Firms. A PLNC working for a law firm will work with attorneys in various types of cases related to healthcare issues such as: personal injury and medical malpractice. The PLNc can either be employed by or contract with the law firm firm. As an employee, often you’ll have benefits such as health insurance, sick days and annual days. As an independent contractor, you will provide these yourself but often there’s more flexibility in your hours.
Healthcare Systems. Many PLNCs choose to work for healthcare systems or hospitals, which is similar to working for an insurance company. You may be called upon to work directly with the company’s risk manager or compliance departments, providing similar support as you would at an insurance company. Usually, the benefits and salary would also be similar to being employed at a law firm or insurance company.
Corporate Entities. As a PLNC working for a large or medium-sized corporation, you may provide the corporation with assistance related to workers’ compensation and other legal issues. You might choose to work as an independent consultant in this setting or potentially be employed by the company.
Government. You may choose to work on the local, state, or federal level as a PLNC in government. Most of this work will involve investigations and working with governing boards of a particular agency. These agencies could include state universities, correctional facilities, clinics, commissions, boards, and governmental agencies.
There’re so many options out there for Professional Legal Nurse Consultants. You might decide to try one or try them all to decide what fits your personality and lifestyle. It’s up to you. As my grandmother, of loving memory, said “the world is your oyster!”.
P.S. What type of PLNC job suits you?
