CERTIFIED LEGAL NURSE CONSULTANT

​Debbie Benes, RN – 160 W. Foothill Pkwy., Ste. 105(18), Corona, CA 92882
debbenes@sbcglobal.net  ∙ Cell/Business 951-751-6583 ∙ Fax 1-951-371-1069

Curriculum Vitae (Printable CV here)

Summary of Qualifications
Debbie Benes has a combined 17.5 years of management and clinical nursing experience in the long term skilled care, and hospice industry.  Experience with managing committees involving Fall Risk, Psychotropic Drug Therapy, and Nutritionally at Risk Patients.  Experience with MDS and the preparation of quarterly reports.  Also have knowledge and experience with assisting in the preparation for annual survey from the Department of Health.  Five years experiencing assisting with the coordination of medical care and return to work, involving Worker’s Compensation employees who have been injured on the job, by accompanying the injured worker to all initial and follow-up medical examinations.  Experienced in attending IMEs/DMEs (audio recorded) for personal injury cases that is accompanied by a detailed reports of the medical office examination.  Experience with writing Chronology Reports for personal injury cases and medical malpractice cases.  
 
Professional Experience
 2007-Present

• Benes Consulting, LLC, Corona, CA
• CEO, Registered Nurse Consultant
• Certified Legal Nurse Consultant   

Experience with:

• Testifying expert witness.
• Consulting Expert.
• Standards of Care.

• Elder/abuse and neglect.
• Falls/restraint use.
• Fall Investigation. 
• Dementia/Alzheimers
• Wrongful death.
• Attending IME/DME medical office exams.
• Long Term Skilled Care and Rehab Nursing Home Regulations and Standards of Care.
• Geriatric Safety Assessment needs during the Care Planning Process.
• Educating Registered Nurses, LIcensed Vocational/Practical Nurses, and Certified Nursing Assistants.  
• Writing Chronology Reports (including summary and opinions) and organizing medical records in chronological order.

 
2014-Present

• RAPP & Associates, Laguna Niguel, CA
• RN, Onsite Nurse (OSN)
• Accompany work comp injured employees to their medical exams for all initial and follow-up appointments.
• OSN:  Acting as a representative for the employers work comp handler by interviewing the injured employee, the doctor, and providing a verbal and written report to the care coordinator.
• Attending medical exams and following up with the care coordinator ensures a timely recovery and a smooth transition back to work.

 
2012-2014

• Valley Healthcare, San Bernardino, CA

• RN Care Plan Coordinator
• Write and update Care Plans.
• Perform quarterly patient Risk Assessments.
• Provide Fall Risk assessments and plan of care to ensure safety and prevent future falls.
• Assist with assessing and care coordination of patients who are Nutritionally at Risk in a long term skilled care facility.
• Attended quarterly and annual Care Plan Meetings, that included the interdisciplinary team (RN, MDS coordinator, social services, activity director, and the resident and the family), in order to review the plan of care and make changes as needed.
• Provided inservice training to the nursing staff.
• Provided education to the residents and family.
• Coordinated care with the physicians.

 
2008-2011

• Care Alternatives Hospice, Riverside, CA
• RN Case Manager
• Case manager for patients with life limiting conditions in the long term skilled facilities, alternative living facilities, and in private home settings.
• Assist with training of newly employed RNs.
• Communicate with physicians and IDT regarding patient’s ongoing medical condition, to provide quality of care and maintain comfort measures.
• Educate patient/families regarding disease and dying process.  Adhere to patient and family goals through teaching/education in order to allow patient to stay at home through death.
• Supervise LVNs and CHHAs (certified home health aides) within my patient case load.

 
2007-2008

• Legacy Post-Acute Rehab Center, San Bernardino, CA
• Clinical RN
• Managed patient care in a subacute long term care facility.  Coordinated care with physicians and staff.  Responsible for all IVs (intravenous therapy).

 
2004-2006

• Legacy Post-Acute Rehab Center, San Bernardino, CA
• Registered Nurse Care Plan Coordinator
• Wrote and implemented patient care plans based on the nursing process in order to direct patient care.
• Prepare quarterly MDS (minimum data set), coordinated and assisted with patient care plan meetings between the patient and the family.
• Develop nursing lesson plans and educated nursing staff to enhance their nursing skill and performance.
• Managed Fall Risk IDT Committee to ensure patient safety.  Planned and implemented ways to reduce patient restraint use while maintaining patient’s highest level of independence; along with the IDT.  Investigated all fall occurrences and/or injuries according to policy and procedure.

• Performed chart review and analysis.
• Assisted with preparation for the annual Department of Health Survey.
• Managed psychotropic IDT Committee for patients with various behavioral disorders to provide effective outcomes.
• Manager of the Day: One weekend out of the month was acting manager for the entire facility.   Would supervise the entire staff and would trouble shoot any concerns.
• Assisted CNAs (certified nursing assistants) with maintaining their certification through managing their hours by providing inservices in order to keep certifications current and satisfy the CNA Board.

 
2002-2004

• Chapman Hospice, Riverside, CA
• RN Case Manager
• Case Manager for patients with life limiting conditions in the long term skilled facilities, alternative living facilities, and in private home settings.
• Assisted with the training of newly employed RNs.
• Communicate with physicians and the IDT regarding patient’s ongoing medical condition, to provide quality of care and maintain comfort measures.
• Educated patient/families regarding disease and dying process.  Adhere to patient and family goals through teaching/education in order to allow patient to stay at home through death.
• Supervised LVNs and CHHAs (certified home health aides) within my patient case load.

 
1999-2002

• Shea Health Center, San Bernardino, CA (now known as Legacy Rehab Center)
• Assistant Director  of Nursing  and Staff Developer
• Involved with management level duties to all staff in a longer term skilled care facility.
• Maintained inservice training to licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants, and ancillary staff.
• Assisted the Director of Nurses with the hiring of licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants.  Responsible for orientation of licensed staff and certified nursing assistants.
• Responsible for providing continuing education classes to the (CNA) certified nursing assistants to ensure maintenance of certificate hours to satisfy the CNA board.
• Responsible for coordinating and assisting the medical director with employee physicals.
• Managed Fall Risk IDT (interdisciplinary team) to ensure patient safety and maintain patient’s highest level of independence. Planned and implemented ways to reduce patient restraint use while maintaining patient safety and independence, along with the IDT.  Investigated all fall occurrences and/or injuries according to policy and procedure.
• Assisted with preparation for the annual Department of Health Survey.
• Managed psychotropic IDT Committee for patients with various behavioral disorders to provide effective outcomes.
• Part of the Nutritionally at Risk dietary committee to meet and maintain patient’s nutritional needs.
• Assisted with the preparation of the annual Department of Health survey.
• Performed clinical duties when needed by filling in on a shift.  Supervised nursing staff, administered intravenous medications, passed routine medications, administered wound treatments, managed patient admissions, communicated with medical doctors regarding patient status, and managed patient emergencies.
• Assisted with updating various policies and procedures to keep the manual current.

  
1997-1997

• Loma Linda University Hospital, Loma Linda, CA
• Registered Nurse
• Clinical nursing duties on a Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Unit.

 
1997-1997

• Inland Valley Hospice, Riverside, CA
• RN Case Manager
• Case Manager for patients with life limiting conditions in the long term skilled care facilities, alternative living facilities, and in private home settings.
• Communicated with physicians and the IDT regarding patient’s ongoing medical condition, in order to provide quality of care and maintain comfort measures.
• Educated patient/families regarding disease and dying process.  Adhere to patient and family goals thru teaching/education in order to allow the patient to stay at home through death.
• Assisted with training of newly employed RNs.
• Supervised LVNs and CHHAs (certified home health aides) within my patient case load.
• Educated long term care facility licensed staff and certified nursing assistants regarding Hospice, comfort measures, patient/family rights to quality of life and death with dignity.

 
1996-1997

• Life Care Corona, Corona, CA
• Registered Nurse, Supervisor
• Supervised all licensed staff and certified nursing assistants and provided clinical nursing services in a long term skilled nursing facility.
• Managed all admissions.  Coordinated with physicians and staff.  Managed all intravenous therapy medications.  Managed all patient emergencies.  Passed routine medications and administered wound care.
• Coordinated patient’s medical care with physicians to maintain the highest level of quality of care to ensure effective outcomes.
• Supervised and provided orientation to newly hired licensed staff and certified nursing assistants.

Professional Subscriptions

• ​National Alliance for Legal Nurse Consultants.
• American Association for Life Care Planners.
• Journal of Nurse Life Care Planning.
• American Journal of Nursing.
• Nurse Week.

Education

• ADN (Associates Degree in Nursing), Riverside Community of College, Riverside, CA, January 1993.
• Legal Nurse Consultant - CLNC®, certification program, Vickie Milazzo Institute, April 2007.
• Life Care Planner - LCP program, Kelly Lance of Kelynco, August 2007.

Certifications, Licenses, and Memberships

• Associates Degree in Nursing
• Certified Legal Nurse Consultant®
• National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants
• American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners (AANLCP)