Protecting Your Nursing License: Negligence, Malpractice, Litigation, Disciplinary Action, and More!

Lorie A. Brown, RN, MN, JD, is a nurse attorney with over 34 combined years as a registered nurse and attorney.  Ms. Brown has a specialized background that allows her to provide medical legal consulting, representation of nurses before the licensing board and teach other LNCs ways to get in the door of potential attorney clients to get more cases and make more money.

For over a decade, Lorie has taught LNC nurse business owners’ step by step strategies to grow a successful consulting practice. She is the author of The Legal Nurse Consultant’s Workbook; Turning Your Nursing Knowledge into a Successful Consulting Practice. The creator of the Get More Cases Home Study Program and Winning the Game of Marketing as a Legal Nurse Consultant, she mentors LNCs on how to grow their business through www.LNCBizSchool.com and offers an exclusive yearlong legal nurse consultant master class, available by invitation only.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Lorie Brown is the founder and director of Empowered Nurses and has an employment relationship with Brown Law Office, P.C. She receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Lorie Brown is a member of the National Nurses in Business Association and the American Association of Nurse Attorneys.

Cyndi Zarbano, MSN-Ed, CCRN, PCCN, CMSRN, LNC, NLCP, brings 30 years of frontline nursing experience across intensive care, emergency, and flight nursing – and she continues to take patient assignments as an intensive care nurse at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. That direct patient care isn’t just background; it’s the foundation of everything she teaches.

A sought-after speaker on national and international stages, Cyndi is known for delivering evidence-based clinical content with the kind of real-world perspective and genuine humor that makes learning stick. She practices what she preaches when it comes to professional growth, currently pursuing her third master’s degree – this one in leadership.

Her expertise extends well beyond the bedside. Since 2008, Cyndi has served as a legal nurse consultant on more than 300 cases spanning plaintiff, defense, and boards of nursing matters. She has accumulated critical perspectives on clinical documentation, standards of care, and the moments when nursing judgment makes all the difference. A 10-year US Navy veteran who left service as a Lieutenant Commander, she carries that same precision, discipline, and commitment to excellence into every room she enters.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Cynthia Zarbano is the owner of Clinical Review Consultants and has an employment relationship with Mayo Mankato. She receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Cynthia Zarbano has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Jamie Otremba, MSN, RN, CNM, has over 25 years of maternal child nursing experience and is currently practicing full-scope nurse-midwifery at a progressive OB/GYN clinic in suburban Minnesota. Jamie has been active in program development and benchmarking in both clinic and hospital settings. She is also one of the medical directors for the Women’s and Children’s Service Line at a large hospital and medical center in Minnesota. Jamie served as an assistant professor at Minnesota State University and has practiced in women’s health care in a variety of settings, including labor and delivery, postpartum, antenatal, and community health nursing.

She has consulted area healthcare facilities on clinical and legal practice topics, and she continues as an investigator for several medication trials pertinent to obstetric and gynecologic issues. Additionally, Jamie has enjoyed sharing her vast knowledge and experiences as a preceptor for both medical and advanced practice nursing students. Her goal is to provide you with the latest pharmacological options for pregnancy and birth to ultimately improve the maternal and fetal outcomes of your own patients!

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jamie Otremba has an employment relationship with Allina Health and receives compensation as a national speaker. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jamie Otremba is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Network for LGBT Health Equity.

Rosale Lobo, PhD, RN, MSN, LNC, has been a registered nurse for 37 years in the capacity of a nurse, legal nurse consultant, administrator, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. Working with people in hospitals, clinics, and home care settings allowed her to study patients and healthcare professional’s experiences from various perspectives.

Dr. Lobo earned her PhD (2017), with research demonstrating the importance of educating nurses on documentation and patient safety. Her company, Lobo Consulting Group, LLC partners with medical malpractice attorneys nationwide to support their pursuit of justice for their clients. Through her versatile background, she has acquired expertise in the nuances and complexities of healthcare litigation and documentation. As a speaker, Dr. Lobo continues to travel the country speaking with nurses and healthcare systems about the pathways to safer practice patterns.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Rosale Lobo has an employment relationship with Southern Connecticut State University. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Rosale Lobo has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Jaimee Gerrie, MSN, BSN, RN, LNC, CPPS, NCPMT, has been a registered nurse for almost 30 years. She is the principal agent of UPvision Consulting, LLC and UPvision Mediation and Training. She provides comprehensive legal nurse services, expert services, and alternative dispute resolution services, for attorneys and health care organizations with medically related cases. Jaimee is an associate professor of nursing for Lake Superior State University. This program is a fully virtual program utilizing digital technology such as virtual reality to educate new graduates.

Jaimee earned her certificate in legal nurse consulting from Brighton College and is a member of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC), serving two consecutive years on the Annual Forum Committee and one year as the report writing SIG chair. She is a member of the American Nurses Association serving two years as a political action committee board of trustee, and now currently serving her Michigan State Chapter on the nursing policy committee. Jaimee is also a long-standing member of the Michigan Nursing Action Coalition Leadership Committee. Jaimee also maintains membership in several other organizations such as Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA), the State Bar of Michigan- associate member, Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, and the National Association of Certified Mediators.

Jaimee is an experienced speaker and presenter at the local, state, and national levels. She has also published a book, book chapter and journal article author in nursing leadership, legal nurse consulting, and scopes of nursing practice.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jaimee Gerrie has an employment relationship with Lake Superior State University and UPvision Consulting, LLC. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jaimee Gerrie is a member of the American Academy of Legal Nurse Consultants, the National Association of Certified Mediators, the American Society of Professionals in Patient Safety, the American Nurses Association, and the American Nurses Association of Michigan.

Jeffrey Nicholson, PhD, PA-C, MEd, MPAS, DFAAPA, has practiced clinically in emergency medicine, urgent care, occupational and family medicine. He is a former faculty member of 12 years at both the University of Texas Southwestern and the University of Wisconsin Madison PA Programs and held the positions of clinical education director and program chair at the latter. He has been twice president of the Wisconsin Academy of PAs and is a former membership commission member and house of delegates representative of the American Academy of Physician Associates. He is currently a board member and has been president for several terms of the American Academy of PAs in Legal Medicine, and he is the founder and president of the PA Experts Network, a medical-legal consulting company that provides PA, nurse practitioner and nursing standard of care experts in all specialties nationwide. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College, master’s degrees from Harvard University and the University of Nebraska, and both bachelor’s and PhD from the University of Wisconsin. He has testified at depositions and trials in hundreds of alleged PA malpractice cases over his career.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Jeffrey Nicholson has employment relationships with REM Occupational Health, the Wellness and Aurora Psychiatric Hospital, and Physician Assistant Practice. He receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Jeffrey Nicholson is a distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistant and is a fellow with Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants.

Palma Iacovitti, DNP, MBA, RN, has accumulated vast clinical nursing experience over the past 28 years including pediatrics, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, gynecology, solid organ transplant, surgical oncology, and behavioral health. She is currently nursing director of inpatient psychiatric services at University Florida Health in Jacksonville.

Dr. Iacovitti originates from South Jersey. She has been a local to Jacksonville for over 25 years. She earned a bachelor's in nursing, master’s in business administration, and in 2019 received a doctorate in nursing practice from the University of Iowa. Her dissertation focused on workplace violence and incivility. Additionally, Dr. Iacovitti is a published author, contributing editor, and content writer on workplace violence and incivility, leadership management, performance improvement articles, and public speaker.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Palma Iacovitti has an employment relationship with UF Health Jacksonville. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Palma Iacovitti is a member of the American Organization and the Nurse Executives Florida Nurses Association.

Irnise Fennell Williams, JD, RN, is a healthcare and regulatory compliance lawyer with a nursing background, which gives her a deeper understanding of healthcare practices and patient care. This unique legal and nursing knowledge combination allows her to provide comprehensive legal services to healthcare providers, facilities, and organizations.

She is highly skilled in research and analysis. She can quickly and efficiently research complex healthcare issues and regulations and stay up to date with the latest developments and changes in healthcare law and policy.

She helps healthcare providers and organizations navigate the complex web of federal and state regulations and ensures that they are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This may involve conducting internal audits to identify potential non-compliance, developing and implementing compliance programs and policies, and providing legal counsel on patient care, privacy, and data security issues. As a graduate of Howard University and the Howard University School of Law, Irnise is an architect of social change for her clients and her community.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Irnise Williams maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Irnise Williams has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Deborah Ward, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, LNC, is a nurse practitioner with extensive experience and expertise in both the clinical and legal arenas. Her expertise as a nurse practitioner and legal nurse consultant continues to facilitate bridging the gap between the medical and legal sectors through detailed analysis, support, and education. As a legal nurse consultant, Deborah provides full case development services for her legal clients, both plaintiff and defense, for a wide range of medical related cases. Her background as a nurse practitioner brings a unique and progressive approach to case development for her legal clients. Deborah is also an enthusiastic and passionate educator providing programs and presentations focusing on improving patient care and the health of our communities.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Deborah Ward maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Deborah Ward is a member of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants and the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants.

Lois A. Fenner McBride, RN, MS, JD, is an honor’s graduate of the University of Maryland Graduate School of Nursing, Undergraduate School of Nursing, and University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She is an attorney admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Federal Bar and the Maryland Bar. Nurse-Attorney Fenner is a compact licensed registered nurse and a certified clinical nurse specialist.

She is a founding member of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys, past president of the Monumental Bar Association, a member of the Women’s Bar Association, and the Trial Lawyers Association. Nurse-Attorney Fenner has been recognized by the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys with the Distinguished Women in Law award and has been recognized as a Baltimore Business Journal’s Who’s Who in Law, with a selection as a Super Lawyer twice.

Nurse-Attorney Fenner’s law practice today focuses on medical/healthcare litigation and consulting including medical malpractice, licensure, credentialing, administrative and litigation matters. She is a dynamic speaker with a realistic hands-on approach to resolving issues and minimizing risks for patients, clients and health care professionals.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Lois Fenner maintains a private practice. She receives compensation as a Nurse Attorney, Consultant, Educator-Lecturer, and Nurse Clinical Specialist. Lois Fenner receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Lois Fenner is a member of the Maryland Bar Association, the American Nurse-Attorney Association, the American Bar Association, and others. For a complete list, please contact info@pesi.com.

Dianne Rudolph, APRN, GNP-BC, CWOCN®, is a nurse practitioner who is board-certified in gerontological advanced practice nursing and as a wound, ostomy and continence nurse. She has been a nurse for more than 30 years with experience in trauma care, acute care, home care, hospice, long-term care, rehabilitation, and wound care. She is very passionate about caring for adults and older adults with complex medical and wound needs.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dianne Rudolph has an employment relationship with South Texas Wound Associates. She receives compensation as an independent consultant and presenter. Dianne is a published author and receives royalties. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dianne Rudolph is a member of the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN), the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC), and the Texas Medical Directors Association (TMDA).