Career complacency is something that sneaks up on you. The years pass quickly and you are comfortable in your secure job, attending the requisite training seminars and extremely competent in your niche.
But maybe you peeked out from under your rock and found that legal nurse consulting was a blossoming field of interest. Thanks to the internet, this once flying-under-the-radar career is now prominent. Even though you may be excellent in your office/clinic/hospital/job, you may be ready for change. Does a sense of urgency well up within you because everyone seems to know something you do not, and you cannot get started fast enough?
Just because you can do a thing does not mean you should do that thing.
It’s hard to be patient, but easy to get caught up in what others are doing because of the fascination (and desperation to escape less-than-desirable working conditions?).
Before jumping into starting your own business as an LNC, let me help you pick my brain for advice. These next few weeks, I’ll be covering a few things that you should consider before or during your transition into having your own business as a legal nurse consultant.
In planning this new career move, ask yourself if this is what you really want to do. Why do you want to be an LNC, and are you willing to put in the hours of learning that will truly never stop? Because even though this is a career you can step into without extra licensing or certification, becoming an LNC is not a lateral move from nursing. Success in your current job does not guarantee success in becoming a legal nurse consultant.
These are two different worlds.
Wrong preconceptions and bad reasons for pursuing a career in legal nurse consulting:
• You are tired of your current job and just want something new
• You know the hourly rate is triple what you make in a hospital and zowie, that sounds great
• You always wanted to practice law
• You assume it can’t be that difficult or no one would be doing it
• You have been documenting care for years, so writing a consult letter can’t be all that different
• There is just enough credit left on your card to stock a home office
While this post may have emphasized more negative points about becoming an LNC, next week’s post will bring to light some positive points about the world of legal nurse consulting.
legalnurseadams 