Nursing first career; now at home...what next?

I've been enjoying a year off from any professional obligations after 13 yrs of full-time clinical nursing. Needed a radical change to work on family issues. I really miss the priviledged relationship with patients and co-workers. Nursing is all I know since it was my first career. I'm hoping to venture into self-employment but afraid it won't satisfy my need to connect with people in the nurse/patient way. Has anyone else had to overcome this?