NACLNC^® Contest Winner –
My CLNC^® Career Gave Me a New Life
for Myself and My Twins

by Lisa Panish, RN, MSN, ARNP-BC, CLNC

EDITOR'S NOTE: Congratulations to 2008 CLNC^® Success Story Contest winner Lisa Panish, RN, MSN, ARNP-BC, CLNC. Her story won her free tuition (a $775 value) to the 13th Annual NACLNC^® Conference PLUS hotel accommodations for three nights
in Las Vegas.

"I love you one million peanut butter cups. That's a lot of love." My twin boys and I repeat that to each other every night before we go to bed. I know I'm lucky. What do you say about the most important people in your life? My five-year-old identical twins are the reason I became a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant^CM – both have cerebral palsy and asthma.

I have been a single mom since my sons were 15 months old. As a healthcare provider, I have been blessed with opportunities that many others have not. I've been a nurse practitioner for almost ten years, and I have a wonderful job and colleagues. However, I was missing opportunities and therapies with my children. Sometimes I don't want to blink, because I don't want to miss anything in their lives.

As fulfilled and busy as my life is, my parents encouraged me to challenge myself more and try another opportunity. I learned about becoming a CLNC^® consultant from my mother's nursing college roommate, who reported finding success and versatility in her new CLNC^® career. Immediately after that conversation, the Vickie Milazzo Institute information packet arrived in my mailbox.

My parents and I discussed the opportunity to work from home, enjoy a flexible schedule and use my nursing skills in a different way. My parents are so helpful, but they want to enjoy their retirement. The more we heard about the Vickie Milazzo Institute CLNC^® Certification Program, the more we all agreed that the CLNC^® 6-Day Certification Seminar was a good investment.

Within 3 Months of Becoming a CLNC^® Consultant, I Had 3 Attorney-Clients

I attended the 6-Day Certification Seminar, and every minute was invaluable. The wealth of information fascinated me, and I knew I had found a nursing profession I could excel in and enjoy.

I returned home full of motivation and ready to get started, but the responsibilities of a full-time job and sick children took priority. My friends knew I had taken Vickie's program and were excited for me. One girlfriend called to tell me that her neighbor, an attorney, was looking for a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant^CM to do some work for him.

And so my CLNC^® career began. It all happened so quickly. My first case was the scariest, and I kept thinking, "Fake it till you make it." How many times did I hear that?

After that first case, my CLNC^® colleagues began calling me when they were overloaded. I completed two more cases, and within three months I had three attorney-clients. My attorney-clients now refer me to their attorney colleagues – last week I received a call from a defense attorney.

The learning curve has been huge, and the social atmosphere in the legal world is different from that in the hospitals, nursing homes and office practices where I have worked. On every case I am able to give the nursing perspective and add my personal experience as a nurse practitioner to strengthen the case. I look forward to challenging myself with other CLNC^® opportunities and becoming more versatile. I want attorneys to see me as an asset and call on me because of my outstanding reputation in my new career.

With the money I have made so far as a CLNC^® consultant, I have been able to replace the tile and carpet throughout my home with hardwood floors. This change has made a difference in my boys' asthma and their mobility. I have wanted to change the flooring since I moved in four years ago, but was never able to afford it until I became a CLNC^® consultant.

I cannot thank Vickie Milazzo Institute enough for changing not only my life, but the lives of my special boys.

Lisa Panish, RN, MSN, ARNP-BC, CLNC is owner of Panish & Associates in Florida. She has been a nurse for 13 years and has been clinically active as a nurse practitioner full time for the past ten years. Lisa's CLNC^® practice specializes in medical/surgical, long term care and geriatric medicine.

Enter the CLNC^® Success Story Contest. Deadline: December 31, 2008.

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“My five-year-old identical twins are the reason I became a Certified Legal Nurse ConsultantCM – both have cerebral palsy and asthma.” “I learned about becoming a CLNC® consultant from my mother's nursing college roommate, who reported finding success and versatility in her new CLNC® career.” “My parents and I discussed the opportunity to work from home, enjoy a flexible schedule and use my nursing skills in a different way.” “The more we heard about the Vickie Milazzo Institute CLNC® Certification Program, the more we all agreed that the CLNC® 6-Day Certification Seminar was a good investment.” “Within 3 Months of Becoming a CLNC® Consultant, I Had 3 Attorney-Clients.” “I attended the 6-Day Certification Seminar, and every minute was invaluable.” “I knew I had found a nursing profession I could excel in and enjoy.” “I returned home full of motivation and ready to get started” “One girlfriend called to tell me that her neighbor, an attorney, was looking for a Certified Legal Nurse ConsultantCM to do some work for him.” “And so my CLNC® career began.” “After that first case, my CLNC® colleagues began calling me when they were overloaded.” “My attorney-clients now refer me to their attorney colleagues – last week I received a call from a defense attorney.” “On every case I am able to give the nursing perspective and add my personal experience as a nurse practitioner to strengthen the case.” “With the money I have made so far as a CLNC® consultant, I have been able to replace the tile and carpet throughout my home with hardwood floors. This change has made a difference in my boys' asthma and their mobility. I have wanted to change the flooring since I moved in four years ago, but was never able to afford it until I became a CLNC® consultant.” “I cannot thank Vickie Milazzo Institute enough for changing not only my life, but the lives of my special boys.”