LNCtips.com: Commit to LNC Success

Committing to success sounds easy to RNs thinking of transitioning from bedside nursing to legal nurse consulting.  They take a course that teaches them the basics of legal nurse consulting, they market their services, and BOOM, they're a success.  That's the picture painted by some LNC schools, but the reality is far different for most of us.  Becoming a success in this field requires a commitment, and I can tell instantly by their words and actions when new LNCs aren't committed to success.    

Commitment refers to the work, energy, and time that one is willing to invest to achieve results.  According to Lorie Brown, RN, MN, JD, there are five levels of commitment.  The examples listed below for each level are based on actual experiences that I've had with new LNCs.

1)  Doing nothing.  I've seen this level of commitment from many new LNCs.  They've taken a course and even though the course provided detailed information on how to get started, they're stuck.  Or they may have made some initial marketing efforts that produced no results so now the LNCs do nothing.  It's pretty obvious that doing nothing is not going to lead to success.

2) Wishing, hoping, wanting.  I used to screen and interview LNCs for a law firm.  I've heard many LNCs say that they really wanted to become an LNC.  When asked what steps they were taking to further their LNC career, I usually got a blank stare followed by something like this: "If only you would give me a chance, I know I could do this job."  When asked what skills they would bring to the position, I often received another blank stare, followed by:  "I'm a quick learner," or "I'm a nurse; I can do anything."  This level of commitment is like wanting the outcome without making the effort.  Instead of wishing, hoping, or wanting, committed LNCs work on attaining the skill set they need to become successful.

3) Trying.  RNs who say they want to "try legal nurse consulting to see if they like it" are in the middle ground of commitment.  Unfortunately, trying doesn't always equate to success.  Trying often means excuses, inefficiency or ambivalent behavior.  As nurses, did they "try" to correctly identify patients before surgery, or "try" to administer injections in the right spot?  Whenever I interviewed RNs who told me they wanted to "try out" legal nurse consulting, it was the end of the interview, because I knew the nurse wasn't committed enough to be successful.

4) Doing it unless.  RNs at this level will commit the time, resources, and energy to become successful, but the commitment has strings attached.  They will become successful LNCs unless it requires full-time work, they have to work in the physical premises of law firms, it interferes with their current RN work schedule, or a myriad of other reasons.  Some RNs actually DO become successful LNCs with one or more strings attached.  New LNCs need to know, however, that these type of restrictions greatly narrow the field of potential clients.

5) Doing whatever it takes.  At my first local chapter AALNC meeting, a seasoned LNC told me that she had seen many new LNCs come and go over the years.  The ones who succeeded, she told me, were the ones who did whatever it took to become a success.  (Thank you, Cheryl!)  This level of commitment involves learning new skills, creating plans, and consistent follow through on the plans.  This level of commitment never includes excuses.  I'm always surprised when I hear excuses such as "Attorneys won't hire me because of my age (or weight or other physical characteristics)."  If committed LNCs don't get results at first, they continue to follow their plans, or they revise their plans until they get results.  They do whatever it takes.

...Katy Jones