Most Certified Legal Nurse Consultants didn’t quit their day jobs to start their CLNC® businesses. In fact, legal nurse consulting doesn’t have to be all or nothing for you, and we don’t recommend you quit your day job quite yet. In this blog 5 CLNC consultants discuss getting started part time and provide insights into transitioning to full-time legal nurse consulting.
I began my CLNC business while continuing to work part time to maintain a steady income. This approach worked well for me. At the time, I provided home infusion and home health visits. One of the advantages of this arrangement was the flexibility it allowed. Because I was not working full time, I could set my availability each weekend for the upcoming week. For example, I might schedule only afternoons or morning visits or only three days per week. This flexibility allowed me to dedicate the remaining time to build my CLNC business.
After approximately one year, I accepted Vickie’s challenge to just go for it and transition to full-time consulting. That decision worked out well. I started with a bang and was able to maintain strong momentum with a consistent caseload.
There are clear advantages and disadvantages to consulting full time. One advantage is the ability to just jump right in and immerse yourself in the business. A disadvantage is the absence of another reliable source of income. A consideration is financial predictability. You might prefer to have a reasonably consistent volume of cases coming in each month before leaving your current job.
– Dale Barnes, RN, MSN, PHN, CLNC
I started my CLNC business part time and have remained part time only because I truly enjoy my clinical nursing job. I currently work per diem in an 8-hour, Monday-through-Friday position. However, I recognize that for RNs who wish to leave clinical nursing, legal nurse consulting can be extremely rewarding. When an attorney says “Thank you so much for the work that you did,” or “You send me the most detailed reports,” or “You made a difference in this matter,” or “You’re the best expert I have ever worked with,” it feels like receiving an unexpected gift.
– Marcia Bell, RN, BSN, CAPA, CLNC
I started my CLNC business part time while working an RN job full time and attending school part time to complete my master’s degree. Starting part time allowed me to continue working, pursue my graduate education and develop my CLNC business at a pace I was comfortable with. I had the flexibility to set my schedule, which allowed time to develop marketing strategies to support long-term growth. Additionally, because I maintained my RN job, I was able to serve as a testifying expert, which is a great marketing strategy in and of itself.
One of the challenges of juggling a part-time CLNC business and an RN job is the difficulty of managing time. Along with the challenges of managing school, I did not push myself as aggressively as I could have during the early stages of my CLNC business. I spread myself too thin, and in hindsight I would have reduced competing obligations and focused more intentionally on growing my CLNC business.
– Carol Fridal, MS, RN, CEN, CLNC
I started my CLNC business part time. Within three months, I transitioned to full-time consulting due to an increase in case volume and a growing sense of stability. Starting part time allowed me to transition to another field of nursing, while still maintaining an income level comparable to or greater than my previous earnings.
One disadvantage of transitioning to a full-time CLNC business so quickly was that I might have benefited from gaining more legal nurse consulting experience during the early phase of my business. Fortunately, LegalNurse.com prepared me extensively in all aspects of consulting, including marketing. I followed their recommendations closely, which enabled me to obtain cases quickly and contributed significantly to my early success. If given the opportunity to do it all over again, and knowing the training I received, I would have transitioned to full-time consulting even sooner.
– Shequita Moore, MSN, RN, LNFA, CLNC
I began my CLNC business part time while working in risk management. Legal nurse consulting education and experience complemented my RN job. Trying to build a CLNC business while working an RN job and managing family responsibilities was challenging, but with strong prioritization, skills, discipline and a supportive family, it was achievable. Ultimately you can create a successful CLNC business as long as you remain consistent and disciplined.
– Nicole Schuster, BSN, RN, ACM, CLNC
Special thanks to Dale Barnes, RN, MSN, PHN, CLNC, Marcia Bell, RN, BSN, CAPA, CLNC, Carol Fridal, MS, RN, CEN, CLNC, Shequita Moore, MSN, RN, LNFA, CLNC and Nicole Schuster, BSN, RN, ACM, CLNC for sharing how they started their CLNC business part time.
Success Is Yours,
P.S. Comment and share whether you started your CLNC business part time.
