Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

If you are too nervous to go out on your own try being an intrapreneur first. Intrapreneuring involves starting a division or product line within your current work environment. You won't benefit as much monetarily as if you were a nurse entrepreneur but you won't have the risk either. Think of something you would like to develop, create a business plan, and sell it to your current administration.

I did several intrapreneuring ventures before going out on my own. As someone with an entrepreneural spirit before I even knew it I was always anxious to create something. I created a return to work program for an employer, a medical case management division for a work comp case management company, and an auto case management division within a work comp case management company.

These were great ways to develop my skills before going out on my own. If you don't feel you are ready for entrepreneuring consider intrapreneuring.

Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

Originally Posted by phatlipboardz

Having your spouse/partner behind you and supporting your decision is more than half the battle. It certainly does take understanding from friends and family members that this type of venture takes a lot of time and effort.

If there is something that you are passionate I would say make a plan and see if you would think it would work. I try and surround myself with as many entrepreneurs as possible. Unfortunately there aren't too many of us nurse entrepreneurs to bounce ideas off of, but I am certainly trying to change that one nurse at a time.

Keep me posted if you do decide to go out on your own, even if it is just a few hours a week or even a month.

I always say some need the pencils bought for them and some want to buy the pencils and distribute, being an entrepreneur is not for everyone and you work much harder for yourself then you do for someone else, but I am willing to try.
I thougth I would go back to school, but I know now that is not what I should be doing..
I'll keep you posted.
I will keep you posted....

Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

How many ways are there for nurses to work independently? I have been brainstorming for a long time and I need some fresh ideas. Anyone have any thoughts? I'd love to see a whole list of avenues we nurses could choose, so I could research each and every one, to find just the right fit for me.

Thanks!

Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

There are many ways to be independent in your nursing career. Here are just a few titles that nurses have choosen to pursue: cosmetic nurse specialists, nurse acupuncturists, nurse attorneys, nurse care managers, nurse case managers, independent contract nurses, nurse coaches, nurse consultants, nurse counselor, nurse educators, nurse disease managers, nurse expert witnesses, nurse life care planners, nurse medical bill auditors, nurse medical coders, nurse medical researchers, nurse midwives, nurse paralegals, nurse patient advocates, nurse qualified rehabilitation consultants, nurse rehabilitation consultants, nurse risk managers, nurse speakers, nurse specialists, nurse trainers, nurse wound care specialists, nurse writers, nurses in alternative medicine, community health nurses, forensic nurses, immunization nurses, legal nurse consultants (LNC), psychiatric nurses, sexual assault nurses, sports nutrition nurses, geriatric care managers, nurse health advocates, nurse death investigators, utilization review nurses, and nurse wellness coaches
This list does not exhaust all the possibilities but it should give you a place to start with your research.

Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

Wow! Ask and ye shall receive. Thanks so much. That will keep me busy researching for quite some time. To narrow this field down some, what areas would require the least amount of further formal education? I have a Diploma in Nursing, and have an extensive background over 15 years of practicing in hospitals, rehab and home care, but I have no special certifications or credentials; ie initials following my name.

Who would want me, "just an RN"? Super nurse I am not. But I do have some major strengths, along w/ the inevitable weaknesses we all have.

Anyone out there ever break out of traditional institutional nursing into something more autonomous, w/ a background similar to my own? How did you do it? What did it take to make the transition? How were you received by your new clients?

Thanks again!

Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

RNentrepreneur really summed it up. I am not sure that I could really add to that. One thing that I will say that I have experienced and continue to do so an IC is that I always seem to find myself with desires to really branch out and grow my business in other areas. Advise that I give myself and to others is to focus on 1-2 services that you can provide and do them well. Then as time goes on and your interests and experience starts to broaden, then it may be good to explore other areas, but keep in mind that if a business is working for you and you enjoy it, by all means stick with it.

I try to develop partnerships with other professionals (ie. PT, OT, SLP, and holistic providers) so that we can all bring our expertise together and provide services that basically focus on the head to toe of the patient. I don't have any special certificates or the alphabet soup after my name, but I do have real world nursing experience and I apply this to my business. I gain a lot of respect for being a nurse in my day to day and clients/patients definitely respect what I have to say. They also appreciate the customer service a nurse can provide. I believe in a "no rush" policy with my patients and clients and if I have to "dig" or tap into other resources to find an answer, then that is what I will do.

Remember, even though there are quite a few nurses out there that are providing services as an IC, this is still not a mainstream idea. It is an ongoing process to not only educate your potential clients, but also other nurses about being an entrepreneur. Also, get to know your specific nurse practice act. In colorado (and this is paraphrased a bit):

Can RNs practice independently?

Yes, when performing independent nursing functions. According to CRS 12-38-103 (10), Practice of Professional Nursing is the performance of both independent nursing functions and delegated medical functions. CRS 12-38-103 (12) requires that delegated medical functions shall be performed under the responsible direction and supervision of a person licensed under the laws of this state to practice medicine, podiatry, or dentistry. In addition, CRS 12-38-128 Independent practice - direct reimbursement, does not prohibit RNs from practicing professional nursing independently for compensation upon a fee for services basis.
www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/statutes/NursePracticeAct.pdf




Plenty of professionals hang their own shingle. Most of them also have to follow their specific governing body of rules as well. An attorney can't give medical advice (unless they have a medical license), M.D. doesn't give legal advice, a CPA isn't going to tell you how to fix your plumbing, and a licensed electrician isn't going to do your taxes for you.



Stay within your scope, and stick with what you know and feel comfortable with. Certifications are always nice and if there is something that you are interested in that would be better that you do obtain some time of certification whether it be legally or just professional growth, then do the research and go for it.



Times are changing and with this current economic time, plenty of organizations will be looking to outsource more to IC's whether medical/nursing, finance, legal, sales, etc. Take the wheel and plot out your course. Don't forget to use Google Maps or GPS if you get lost

Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

not everyone has what it takes to be on their own, I do know after trying different things you MUST have a passion for what ever you do because you will need that to keep going when you get challenged in your business.
yes lets keep this forum going..

Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

Wow-never thought of all those titles. I was most interested in the nurse coaches title. I'm in the middle of getting certified to become a life coach. When I decided to go into this field, I was not aware of a title of nurse coach.

Can anyone tell me more about this? Who does a nursecoach coach? What area of expertise is needed?

Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

I don't think there is a clear definition of a nurse coach. I would think this could be a nurse who coaches other nurses. A nurse coach could also be someone who does lifestyle coaching, wellness coaching, nutrition coaching, or a variety of other specialties that a nurse might have.

LeaRae

Re: Keep this forum alive: Be an entrepreneur

I started my own nursing business 3 years ago after a deligent search for the right "product" to use my license for. The key to any successful business in healthcare is to find something that is lacking or missing or is just to costly for hospitals to do inhouse and then develop a service/product that addresses the need. For me, I developed a service specific to the needs of acute care facilities that directly affects their patient satisfaction and safety outcomes.

Product/service development was the easy part. It is the marketing/sales component of any business that requires the most effort and training. If you believe in what you do or the service you provide, you can "sell" anything to anybody.