Calling All Nurse Entrepreneurs!

TouchRN, would love to hear more about how you started up your business (what type of business did you set up) and how did you bill the pts, etc... I love to hear ideas from all you experienced independent nurses that have made it out there!! I would really like to do foot care and medication prep--does anybody know how to get medicare or medicaid to pay me for these services?? Thanks, JEFF

Hi Jeff,
I have never participated in third party reimbursement or Medicaid in all my years of practice. I don't want to buy into an already sick system!
All of my patients pay out of pocket and at the time of service. This has never been a problem.
I am a sole prop.
As far as the foot care.....I had one or two days a week in my office at an assisted living facility and the patients and families signed up on a chalk board on the office door for the next time I would be there. Everyone paid at the time of service or on some of the patients, I had to send a bill to a family member out of state that was taking care of the payment. I charged a nominal fee of $25 per visit, which usually lasted 45 minutes. (Most paid me more). I also saw patients from outside the facility. I was very fortunate that the facility did not charge me for my room there. They realized what a great service this was to offer their residents.
As far as the massage practice......that also is paid for at time of service and I charge $50 an hour. I also charge $50 an hour for wellness coaching. Most people pay me more than that because they think it is worth more, but I have tried to keep my prices reasonable.
When I was doing CEU presentation I charged $10-$15 per credit hour. So a four hour course was around $45 and I could present to a group of 20 to 150 at a time.
I would really encourage you to avoid dealing with Medicare and insurance reimbursement. Not worth the hassle and time. Most people are more than willing to pay out of pocket for a service that they recognize that adds value to their lives and enhances their well being. It really is about you selling yourself and building trusting relationships with your clients and the rest just happens. Word of mouth is the best advertising.
In all of the years I have been practicing I have never spent a penny on advertising!
Let me know if you need any other information.
"Being" in touch

AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!TOUCHRN, YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION!

Thanks!
You are all an inspiration to me too!!
Remember, if you can think it.....you can be it.
I'm all for each of us helping one another get there!!
Sometimes it's just a matter of "doing" it!!

I have long dreamed of being in business for myself and finally after many years of planning and thinking my idea came together. It is just a beginning but.... I have started a cardiovascular nursing company, a PLLC that provides education, consultation, and direct care marketed primarily towards health care facilities and physicians. Hopefully I will be able to bill medicare for some of my services (I am already a medicare provider and have been billing under my own number for 4 years) and the other times I will charge a consultant's fee. I have my first contract and am thrilled! I know I will need to keep a part time job for a while but finally I am on my way!

Olympiad27:
Congratulations. When one of us succeeds like this, you drag the whole of the nursing profession into the next century with you!

Thank you, and I wish you further success.

Just got the forms filled out to inc., the S corp it is. Will file soon. For now am working visits as IC for a bit less pay starting out but the exposure is good. Also have forms ready to be wound care certified and will be able to put that on business card, hopefully with good effect.

I did find an agency which hires IP's without trepidation and can use that for fill in until things get going well.

I am saddened that the ADN program here wants to train strictly hospital nurses, not many skills, just basics to work institutions and does not stress problems in nursing. I wonder why so many young nurses are disillusioned?!! LOL University likes IP and IC nurses and wants to make them prepared for a career of advocacy for nursing. This is heartening. I think as time passes, income and education disparity increases, I think nursing will have a hard time surviving without those who can take the bull by the horns and ride. I feel like I'm doing that now! What a nice change.

The other nurses I have met are really open to sharing and passing good cases and there is a core which does not let themselves become slaves to the whims of patients and be put in a less than respectful position. And all those years they called me cruel! I refused to be treated that way and I finally fit. I think it is so important that as nurses we act and think independently but always with progression of the profession in mind. Compassion should not mean pushover.

I also think it is important for nurses to get with the business end of our profession. I had a business degree from the onset but getting to the place where it could be used was another story. I am thankful for all the logistics and cost accounting I had or I couldn't run a car and home the way I do and stay afloat but now I can put it directily to work for me. I'm also glad I'm not alone.

J

Thank you both so much for the support! How uplifting to have folks that don't even know me celebrate my small success! I will keep in touch.