Laura Grossman Nissim, RN, MS, CNS, LNCC Education: May 1988 May 1979 October 1979 August 2004 October 2006 (Renewed July 2011) Columbia University School of Nursing New York, New York Master of Science in Nursing Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist State University of New York at Downstate Medical Center College of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing New York State Education Department Nursing License 319139 Registered Nurse Connecticut License R47524 PACE University Lienhard School of Continuing Nursing Education Certification Legal Nurse Consultant American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants National Certification Exam: Legal Nurse Consultant Certified Professional Experience: August 2004 present Legal Nurse Consultant Certified Legal Nurse Consultant for large defense firm. In-house LNC, responsible for document review, analysis and summary of medical records for any variety of issues. Firm participates in cases related to product liability, toxic torts, personal liability, medical and other professional malpractice, etc. Beyond document review educate attorneys as to the medical issues and complications, participate in depositions, assist in trial preparation, creation of trial documents and participate at trial when needed. Provide research of medical issues and literature documentation to assist attorneys in providing accurate, concise reports to clients. Function independently within multi-location firm (up to 800 attorneys world wide); identify and prep experts while evaluating needs of attorneys for cases. January 2009 Sacred Heart University School of Nursing 2011 Adjunct Clinical Faculty Clinical faculty on site in hospital setting for junior level Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. Responsible for education, clinical supervision and evaluation of (a total of) 12 nursing students, over 12 week semester (8 hour shift)
September 2004 August 2005 Nursing and Home Care Mid-Fairfield Hospice Community Liaison for not-for-profit home care agency and partner hospice agency. Responsibilities include community outreach and education, coordination with case managers, insurers and families on discharge planning and care. Supervision of hospital based acute hospice patients and their care. Marketing new fee for service case management program for the elderly or infirm through local eldercare attorneys and senior care managers. May 2004 Independent Legal Nurse Consultant - LNCOnline Private practice as Legal Nurse Consultant (either plaintiff or defendant) evaluating cases for merit, potential outcomes and general health related information. Provision of professional documentation following case review, and ongoing availability to attorneys for consultation on an as needed basis. Identification of issues related to damages and liability. Consultation for medical malpractice, personal injury, product liability and education as it relates to IDEA. February 2005 University of Phoenix on Line November 2005 Teaching undergraduate Nursing Theory classes in virtual classroom (non-real time on line). Responsible for working/corresponding with students (almost daily), writing and presenting (virtual) lectures, grading papers and providing feed back evaluations and grades on a weekly basis for courses which were 5-6 weeks long. Students ranged from those with degrees in other fields to RN s who hadn t gone to school for many years. Course work was for obtaining BSN. September 1998 September 2004 Westport Board of Education Coleytown Elementary School, Staff Nurse May 1999 to September 2004 Substitute Nurse September 1998-May 1999 Staff Nurse for public school with approximately 500-600 students. Responsibilities included day-to-day care, medicine administration, health assessments, and emergent care of the medically fragile student population. Member of the PPT team providing medical information, support and direction as it pertains to IDEA and least restrictive access to education. September 1990 June 1996 Private Nurse Consultant The Center for Parenting Skills; New York Parent education program created and taught by nurses to provide education to first time parents and parents to be (1990-1992) STAR Residential Services; Connecticut Coordinated, supervised health care of approximately 50 developmentally disabled adult clients in the community. Supervised, educated non-certified and non-licensed personnel for medication administration. The Common Fund, Westport, Connecticut Supervision of State Legislated Regulations re: health care in a Day Care Program. Weekly visits to ensure compliance and to provide health ed support to Staff. (June 95-March 96) July 1993 Per Diem Nursing September 2004 Mahackeno YMCA Camp; Westport, Connecticut Camp nurse at a local day camp with revolving enrollment. Organization and review of all health information for up to nine hundred children, creation of new documentation system, ordering of supplies coordination of health care for multiply handicapped or neurologically disabled children and training of onsite EMT. (Summer June-August 2001,2002,2003,2004)
Interim Health Care; Fairfield, Connecticut Home care visits on an as needed basis for medically needy children. Usually post hospitalization, or following discharge of premature infants. Onsite work with families, health aides and physicians. (August 2001-2002) Independent Nurses; Fairfield Connecticut Home care nursing for medically fragile pediatric cases Onsite work involved education, clinical support and working families. (August 1995-February 1996) Long Ridge Camp, Stamford, Connecticut Per diem Camp Nurse for large private day camp (July-August 1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000) Honey Hill Care Center; Connecticut Nursing Supervisor, off shift for new Nursing Care facility (July 1993-February 1994) Willows Pediatrics, Connecticut Staff work in a large Pediatric Group (1992-1999) September 1987 January 1994 September 1988 to 1990 September 1988 to 1992 December 1983 August 1987 May 1979 December 1983 Blythedale Children's Hospital Valhalla, New York Assistant Director of Nursing for Special Projects College of New Rochelle School of Nursing, Graduate Program New Rochelle, New York Adjunct Faculty Columbia University School of Nursing, Undergraduate & Graduate New York, New York Associate Professor; Adjunct Faculty Schneider Children's Hospital of Long Island Jewish Medical Center New Hyde Park, New York Nursing Care Coordinator Babies Hospital at The Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center New York, New York Staff Nurse Professional Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Zeta Chapter (Columbia University) Memberships: President 1991-1993 Bylaws Evaluation Committee 1990-1991 Sigma Theta Tau Zeta Omega Chapter Vice President, Executive Committee 1989-90 National Nurses in Business Association Association of Rehabilitation Nursing 1988-1992 National Association of School Nurses 2002-2004 American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants 2003-present AALNC Awareness Committee 2008-2011 New York City Chapter AALNC 2006-2009 Director at Large NYCC AALNC 2007-2009 CT Chapter AALNCC 2009-present Secretary Connecticut Chapter AALNC 2010-2012 President Elect Connecticut Chapter AALNC 2012 President Connecticut Chapter AALNC 2013 American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board 2012-Present
Presentations: Radio June 1988 WBAI-FM Nursing and Health Resource Network "Technological Rescue of Newborns: Physical, Emotional and Financial Consequences" March 1988 WFAS-AM What s New in Health? "Spina Bifida - What is it and what's available?" Conferences April 2015 to April 2009 November 1992 March 1992 October 1989 October 1989 September 1989 May 1989 October 1988 November 1986 In Defense of a Motor Vehicle Catastrophic Injury Claim: From Records, to Mock Trials, Litigation at the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants National Conference Co-Presentation with Elizabeth Ho Sing, Esq. Indianapolis, Indiana. Triaging Trials: The Role of the In-House LNC for the Defense at the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants National Conference. Phoenix Arizona "The Use of Grading Systems: the Key to Musculoskeletal Assessment" at Open the Door to Pediatric Assessment: Eight Keys to a Successful Exam, Blythedale Children's Hospital. "Assessing the Mentally Retarded" in Critical Issues in Neurological Nursing: "Complexities in Practice", Greater New York Chapter American Association of Neuroscience Nurse. "Project CHILDD: An Innovative Approach to Respite Care." Third Annual Department of Pediatric Nursing Conference, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio. "Transition from Hospital to Home: The Care of the Ventilator Assisted Child" National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, Annual Conference. "Transition from Hospital to Home: Psychological Issues of the Ventilator Assisted Child Annual Conference, Child Psychiatric Advocates. "Project CHILDD: An Innovative Approach to Respite Care." Association for the Care of Children's Health Annual Conference. "Implementation of the Marker Model in a Pediatric Rehabilitation Setting" Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, Annual conference. Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center Center for Women and Children Nursing Units..8 South Coordinator/ Lecturer- Cardiology Lecture Series for Nursing Papers March - April 1995 September 1991 December 1990 September 1988 Health Education Articles: The Westport MINUTEMAN. Local Newspaper. Ventilator Assisted Child: A Case for Empowerment. Co-author. Pediatric Nursing Suburban Parenting. Multiple articles regarding parenting issues and health care in a county based newsletter. Co-author - Accepted Grant from Westchester County Department of Mental Retardation
and Developmental Disability... Project CHILDD (Community Help in Learning about Developmental Disabilities) Respite program for medically fragile and developmentally disabled children. Non-Nursing Activities November 2014 present September 1991 June 2001 January 1997 December 1999 Heath Services Chair-A Better Chance of Westport Board/Executive Board Westport Young Woman s League High Point Systems, Inc. Computer skills include (not limited to) WORD, Excel, Quicken, Quick books, some graphic software Post Graduate School work September 2001 October 2003 Norwalk Community College Coursework - for Paralegal Certificate
Nomination Application Questions: 1). List your current professional responsibilities. (Please be sure to highlight any financial, writing, communication, leadership, etc. responsibilities where possible.) I am currently a full time in house (defense) LNC with responsibilities for document review and provision of attorney support in identification of issues for mitigating damages. Responsible for completing documentation of summaries and file reviews for submission to attorneys and clients; education to attorney in anticipation of litigation, support and education to new associates. Frequently responsible for identification of experts throughout NY State and other areas (we have offices across the country) for IMEs and coordination with physicians and other providers for exams and trials. Prep of some experts prior to trial. Work in concert with other full time LNC in organizing assignments (to multiple other FT and PT LNCs employed by the firm), providing comprehensive coverage to attorneys with available staff in timely manner. I have also participated with attorneys in interviews of prospective new LNC hires and their subsequent training and orientation. 4). How would you add value to the AALNC Board of Directors? I have 10+ years as a full time LNC as well as many years as a clinician and administrator; I have participated in education, management, certification and networking at the chapter and national levels. I think that my diverse background and interactions in the field with nurses, attorneys and others in medicine and law will benefit the BOD. My past experience on the ALNCCB will provide a secondary level of understanding of the issues facing the ALNCCB; including the processes involved in the job analysis as well as the various testing and exam issues (i.e. cut score, practice exams, current testing methodology) that may impact the organization over time. The certification board and its mandate is a mostly foreign concept to the membership; it doesn t go beyond the understanding that the ALNCCB manages the examination and certification. I have been in two chapters at the state level and held multiple positions. My understanding of the many issues that chapter s struggle with is diverse, ranging from obtaining (and keeping) members, supporting communication, attendance, education and social media. I understand communication and interaction with volunteers vs employees as well as the difference in obtaining good outcomes with each. 6). What is your vision for AALNC and the legal nurse consulting profession? I believe that we as LNCs must continually push the elements of what we do and assertively communicate all that we do in its various permutations to both attorneys and the general public. Though I think we might struggle with scholarly writing (not because we can t there s just not enough time!) the use of social media and outside the box type publicity about the profession may contribute to better education to the general public. I also believe that AALNC must continue to be the voice for certification and education of nurses. There needs to be clear definitions of what we can do and how we do it; the for profit, non-accredited programs should be addressed in some way (further the certified vs certificate discussion). We should continue to build our strength by increasing our relationships with other nursing bodies (life care planners, risk managers and case managers) in order to strengthen our numbers and our diversity.