HELP!!!! How do I start as a consultant

Published

Specializes in GI/GU surg,Pacu, ct surg, home care, NH.

Hi I am a nurse with 6 yrs of critical care experience in a prestigious manhattan hospital . I have been interested in going into legal nurse consultant for quite some time now. I have not had any formal training yet because I was concerned about spending money on a program and then having a hard time getting a job. I recently applied for a legal nurse consultant job in a law firm dealing with personal injury suits. The ad stated that legal experience not necessary, so I figured great, a good way too start. But guess what, they want to start off @ $15/hr. Thats right FIFTEEN DOLLARS an hour because I would have to be trained, and eventually a raise but not that much. I was appalled, I currently bring in close to $90,000 working a regular 12 hour three day a week job. I didnt even know how to respond.

How should I start off with being a consultant? Should I just do a program? And when I do apply for jobs what salary should I be demanding as a inexperienced consultant, $50 ,$75, $100. I need HELP

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello bklynbaby and Welcome to allnurses.com

Good to have you with us.

You will find most in-house Law Firms pay poorly. Most LNCs are independent. Most new LNCs will charge anywhere from $75 - $100/hour starting out.

Check out the "sticky threads" (found at the top fo this forum). They will answer a lot of your questions about educative entities.

Good luck with your decisions and come back here if you have other questions/concerns.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello Sirl,

I have a question concerning LNC software and website use. Hoping you could help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi I am a nurse with 6 yrs of critical care experience in a prestigious manhattan hospital . I have been interested in going into legal nurse consultant for quite some time now. I have not had any formal training yet because I was concerned about spending money on a program and then having a hard time getting a job. I recently applied for a legal nurse consultant job in a law firm dealing with personal injury suits. The ad stated that legal experience not necessary, so I figured great, a good way too start. But guess what, they want to start off @ $15/hr. Thats right FIFTEEN DOLLARS an hour because I would have to be trained, and eventually a raise but not that much. I was appalled, I currently bring in close to $90,000 working a regular 12 hour three day a week job. I didnt even know how to respond.

How should I start off with being a consultant? Should I just do a program? And when I do apply for jobs what salary should I be demanding as a inexperienced consultant, $50 ,$75, $100. I need HELP

Thanks

My only advice is to tell that Law Firm to take a hike. They pay paralegals and legal assistants ALOT more than that. This is NY for Gods sake! What they want is all of the medical knowledge that you have and they don't, and they want it for peanuts. Tell them you want a signifigantly higher pay because they are NOT PAYING FOR YOU KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW, THEY ARE PAYING FOR THE YEARS OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE!! And it is worth alot more than they are offering. And it is worth it for them to train you, so you can use your superior knowledge and expertise to help them, that none of their paralegals and legal assistants do.

If they knew what you did, they would not need you, would they. Be sure to tell them that. JMHO and MY NY $0.02. Tell them the nurse from Brooklyn said so!!

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in GI/GU surg,Pacu, ct surg, home care, NH.

Thanks SIRI and Linda.

I pretty much told her NO especially after she had the nerve to try to schedule a follow up interview. The salary seemed pretty much non negotiable which is crazy.

I am going to network with my colleauges who happen to know a few consultants practing in NYC. I am still hesistant about paying for a course but there is a book that I heard might be of some help "Legal nurse consulting principles and practices". So I will definitely order that book.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The AALNC, "Principles and Practice", is probably all you need. What do you need to learn? Do you really need to take an overpriced, "LNC Course", that tries to teach you what you already know. You can read medical records, read doctors' handwriting, you know what is supposed to happen in a hospital, you know what is wrong.

I did not take any course. I went on my knowledge, and instinct. The course that is given by the AALNC, is supposed to be really good. It is online, reasonably priced, and covers everything.

Remember, if you have never cared for a cardiac patient in the CCU, you have no business attempting to review that case, etc. All of the booklets, concerning different aspects of patients, diagnoses, etc, from the, "Amway of LNC", programs, will not buy you credibility with attorneys.

Why don't you ask her to use you as a consultant. And ask for a much higher salary. Did you ask her how much they pay their paralegals and legal assistants? I can promise you that they make alot more than $15 a hour. They earn more than that here in Spokane.

They are counting on the fact that so many nurses are disgusted with bedside nursing, that they will work for anything to be able to use their nursing degree and not have to go back to school. JMHO and my Ny $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in GI/GU surg,Pacu, ct surg, home care, NH.

Its good to know that you are doing fine with out having taken a program. I actually dont really want to take a course. I just assumed it would make me more marketable if I took a program like a Vickie Milazzano or Kaplan.

As far as the lady that interviewed me, she is not even a lawyer with the firm. She is their senior legal assistant/office manager. Which makes it more strange as to why she was the one conducting interviews that day. That is also why I did not feel comfortable asking her how much the paralegals get paid, because quite frankly she may not even be honest with me. So now I feel stuck because I am not sure if I should try contacting the attorneys directly or try to discuss it further with her.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Its good to know that you are doing fine with out having taken a program. I actually dont really want to take a course. I just assumed it would make me more marketable if I took a program like a Vickie Milazzano or Kaplan.

As far as the lady that interviewed me, she is not even a lawyer with the firm. She is their senior legal assistant/office manager. Which makes it more strange as to why she was the one conducting interviews that day. That is also why I did not feel comfortable asking her how much the paralegals get paid, because quite frankly she may not even be honest with me. So now I feel stuck because I am not sure if I should try contacting the attorneys directly or try to discuss it further with her.

May be you should ask the ATTORNEYS how much YOU SHOULD CHARGE THEM TO "TRAIN THEM" IN THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF THEIR CASES! JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a CLNC, certified thru Vicki Milazzo's program. First and foremost, you are a nurse and your training prepares you for the medical record review which can assist an attorney in preparing his or her case. A legal nurse course is helpful in teaching you about marketing which is a big part of working as a legal nurse consultant, report writing and also gives you a sounding board and networking opportunities with other CLNCs' who you may be able to subcontract with for added work. It has its' good points and bad.

Some attorneys do not want a nurse who is certified, primarily because they believe they have to pay them more money. My suggestion would be to contact the attorneys, but be prepared. Check out the threads here on how to pull together a marketing package. The attorneys know what a good legal nurse consultant is worth and it is much more than 15.00 and hour.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am a CLNC, certified thru Vicki Milazzo's program. First and foremost, you are a nurse and your training prepares you for the medical record review which can assist an attorney in preparing his or her case. A legal nurse course is helpful in teaching you about marketing which is a big part of working as a legal nurse consultant, report writing and also gives you a sounding board and networking opportunities with other CLNCs' who you may be able to subcontract with for added work. It has its' good points and bad.

Some attorneys do not want a nurse who is certified, primarily because they believe they have to pay them more money. My suggestion would be to contact the attorneys, but be prepared. Check out the threads here on how to pull together a marketing package. The attorneys know what a good legal nurse consultant is worth and it is much more than 15.00 and hour.

Good luck!

My educated guess, is that they will get an LPN to take the job. I cannot imagine an RN working for $15 an hour. JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

Kudos to the tips you have given for starting out as a consultant, but can an LPN start out as a consultant if so how.

:idea:LPNquery.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Bklynbaby--funny thing is I know exactly what law firm you are talking about! I'm in NY too and don't want to post it on the forum and I could not pm you. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion