Any entreprenurial nurses out there?

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I just went to a seminar and am all hyped up. I think it is time for us to get down to business. I've been in ICU, management, legal nurse consulting and all that crap for 20 years and think it is time for a change. Anybody out there interested in brainstorming about business ideas? Working for themselves as RN's?

Hey guys! I too was looking for a way out of hospital nursing. I got involved in a home-based business and learned how to take that online. To make a long story short, I have switched gears and am learning about building an online business around whatever I am passionate about. I love sharing information about what I have learned about marketing, but am looking at switching into health coaching just because of the freedom it allows. I am currently struggling on how I want to "Brand" myself. Btw, you guys can make money online around anything you are passionate about. I have written many articles about building your business online...I just have to figure out what I want that to be.

I was wondering if you guys could offer some ideas. I have really gotten into natural health and just incorporating that into every avenue of our lives. My mom is also a RN and feels that I shouldn't get too much into that and focus more on disease management to stay closer to my RN training. What do you guys think? I love learning about nutrition, exercise, and creating a healthy home. The specialties I have worked in are med/surg, mom/baby, and pediatrics. I just finished my masters in nursing with a wellness promotion emphasis.

Any ideas on how to target a specific niche?

Thanks,

Amber

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Specializes in Nursing Education.

I was wondering if you guys could offer some ideas. I have really gotten into natural health and just incorporating that into every avenue of our lives. My mom is also a RN and feels that I shouldn't get too much into that and focus more on disease management to stay closer to my RN training. What do you guys think? I love learning about nutrition, exercise, and creating a healthy home. The specialties I have worked in are med/surg, mom/baby, and pediatrics. I just finished my masters in nursing with a wellness promotion emphasis.

Any ideas on how to target a specific niche?

There are lots of people that run businesses around those topics that aren't even RNs! I think you could definitely do it as an RN...it doesn't matter so much what your degree is in, as it does what you are passionate about and educating yourself about. If you love nutrition and exercise, then you'll be way more successful selling products or services in that area than by trying to force yourself to sell something that you're not as interested in.

As for the niche...talk to everyone you run into! Tell them your idea, and get their feedback. Search on google for the things you're interested in doing, and see what the competition is like. See what in the market is already "stuffed," and what appears to be missing. Or even find someone who is doing what you want to do, then do what they are doing! Then find out what the people in that niche like/dislike about your competitor, and design your services accordingly :)

I think people are sometimes afraid of sharing their business ideas with others because they are afraid they will "steal" them...but people in general don't have the time or the interest in doing that. And especially on the internet, there is such a large market of people that often there are enough customers for everyone!

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Specializes in L&D, AMB OB/GYN, Reporductive Medicine.

Oh my gosh... this is so refreshing. I just joined this site this evening because I am trying to find other like minded nurses. So many nurses don't have an entrepreneurial bone in their body... It's so sad, because I believe nurses are among the smartest people I know. I have been a nurse for twenty-three years. In that time, I did labor & delivery for fifteen years, then went into ambulatory OB/GYN and specialized in reproductive medicine, fibroid medicine, and endometriosis. I loved what I did. I never saw myself leaving and I was making a substantial six figure income.....When I was on the labor floor, I took a short LOA and started my own company to bring home care and teaching to high risk pregnant and postpartum women who could not get out and participate in group programs. I loved it... I did it for eight years but it didn't pay off. During that time, I maintained my status as perdium at the hospital, so I did not lose my seniority.

Two years ago, something amazing happened to me.... I met the founders of a new health and wellness company and was given the opportunity of a life time.... Now, I run my own business from home, using the skills that I already had... After fifteen months with this company, I walked away from a substantial six figure income in nursing (I worked for a major medical center in Boston). I retired fifteen years ahead of schedule and I have never looked back.

I am loving my life....

Nurses are so smart, yet most nurses do not see themselves as business people. They don't see themselves as doing anything but what they were trained for. Yet, so many companies want to hire nurses because we have critical thinking skills that are so important in business.

I challenge all of you nurses to think outside the box... You have what it takes to be huge in business... and I would love to tell you about another option!!!!

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Specializes in OR, HH.

Hi Tesentas,

Congrats!!! This is so exciting. What exactly are you doing? And do you think that I would be able to so something like this after six years as an OR Nurse. I also have a few months of basic HH experience,

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Specializes in ICU, ER, RESEARCH, REHAB, HOME HEALTH, QUALITY.
Oh my gosh... this is so refreshing. I just joined this site this evening because I am trying to find other like minded nurses. So many nurses don't have an entrepreneurial bone in their body... It's so sad, because I believe nurses are among the smartest people I know. I have been a nurse for twenty-three years. In that time, I did labor & delivery for fifteen years, then went into ambulatory OB/GYN and specialized in reproductive medicine, fibroid medicine, and endometriosis. I loved what I did. I never saw myself leaving and I was making a substantial six figure income.....When I was on the labor floor, I took a short LOA and started my own company to bring home care and teaching to high risk pregnant and postpartum women who could not get out and participate in group programs. I loved it... I did it for eight years but it didn't pay off. During that time, I maintained my status as perdium at the hospital, so I did not lose my seniority.

Two years ago, something amazing happened to me.... I met the founders of a new health and wellness company and was given the opportunity of a life time.... Now, I run my own business from home, using the skills that I already had... After fifteen months with this company, I walked away from a substantial six figure income in nursing (I worked for a major medical center in Boston). I retired fifteen years ahead of schedule and I have never looked back.

I am loving my life....

Nurses are so smart, yet most nurses do not see themselves as business people. They don't see themselves as doing anything but what they were trained for. Yet, so many companies want to hire nurses because we have critical thinking skills that are so important in business.

I challenge all of you nurses to think outside the box... You have what it takes to be huge in business... and I would love to tell you about another option!!!!

yes wellness is in, I would love to be a wellness coach and now that the VA is moving to that area with the veterans I have an opportunity to see if its a good fit.. I'd love to hear about what you are doing..

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Just out of curiosity, how many of you here that want to go into business for yourself have worked for a registry/staffing company while being a nurse? Nurse staffing could be a great way for you to start your business because you know a huge component of it (you are a nurse and understand payment structure and how nurses should be treated) and you probably know a great deal of nurses who are you friends that you could help employ.

There are also a lot of healthcare staffing franchises out there that provide proper training and support to help you with the business side of things. A healthcare staffing franchise may give you 2 benefits. You are working in an industry you already know decently well and you get help with the business side of things that you might not be so familiar with.

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I am a nurse entrepeneur. I was a RN for over 25 years. I read all these posts and they all have one thing in common. Everyone is focusing on finding a business in the health care field. Don't tie yourself down to one area. Use your work ethic and business knowledge you gained from nursing to expand into any field you want to. The world is your oyster.

My wife and I bought a retail gift franchise. I also bought a farm. Both are so fun and rewarding. Just keep your mind open to any opportunity. You will not be turning your back on your education, you are only using it in a different way.

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Specializes in Functional Medicine, Holistic Nutrition.
I am a nurse entrepeneur. I was a RN for over 25 years. I read all these posts and they all have one thing in common. Everyone is focusing on finding a business in the health care field. Don't tie yourself down to one area. Use your work ethic and business knowledge you gained from nursing to expand into any field you want to. The world is your oyster.

My wife and I bought a retail gift franchise. I also bought a farm. Both are so fun and rewarding. Just keep your mind open to any opportunity. You will not be turning your back on your education, you are only using it in a different way.

Thank you for this post! I've been thinking a lot lately about turning more to my health and fitness interests and starting an in-home personal training business that focuses on those with "at-risk" conditions. I'm so afraid of "leaving" nursing though. I've invested a lot of time and money on my education. I know that education is never a waste and I would still be using aspects of what I've learned from being a nurse. But it is still very scary...thank you for your words.

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Specializes in psych.

I am a psych nurse, but lately I have been thinking about starting inhome headlice removal business. I am not especially passionate about it, but I have been the lucky nurse chosen to treat and comb several patients during a recent outbreak.

I stumbled upon the idea, because when I talk to coworkers about headlice they can't help, but the creepy crawlies. Also I worked with kids for almost 10 years and saw first hand the angst and frustration families experienced trying to get rid of it. These combined experiences have shown me that 1) families get left fumbling through different treatment methods and 2) healthcare professionals freak out just talking about it, so there's really very few resources for families to turn to for side by side assisstance when they have an infestation.

While there are other players in the market right now they are limited in service and cost more. I want to offer a broader range of services and treatment and charge less for the basic removal. I haven't finished all my homework yet, but I think this is a service anyone can do since the main methods of treatment are OTC. In the event someone wants something prescribed, I'm working on a referral service with a NP friend. It looks like the RN credential just gives me added credibility.

Right now, I'm working on calculating start-up costs, general overhead vs anticepated earingings.

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I am the only "boring" one here. LOL.

I decided to set up a footcare service and I am plugging away at it. I am haveing renovations to my house for a clinic and will combine home visiting and clinic visits. I also plan to sell the products I use.( maybe do up baskets for special gifts/seasons as well as gift certificates).

I found it interesting so far. Doing a business plan, developing forms and researching tools and other supplies.

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Specializes in psych, geriatrics.

I've been pursuing intraprenurial and enterprenurial projects for a while now.

I'm looking to set up a consulting business, teaching nurses how to feel more comfortable and confident and effective in their efforts to persuade patients to accept and cooperate with treatment. I give presentations where I work, talk it up with coworkers, study, write, and provide content in various ways, honing my skills and figuring out what works.

Lately i was able to switch to all Per Diem work, throughout a network of units, which helps me spread the word, and keep a flexible schedule for my side projects, and learn how to better market myself, keep track of my commitments, and so on - all new to me after years of someone else largely dictating my schedule, scary at first (no security - NONE), but I treat it like my own little own person business and its going well. Hard to say how the consulting thing will go, but I don't need it to blossom overnight, given my current back-up plan.

I'm thinking I need to set up a website, e-learning, reach a much bigger customer pool that way, but i've got a lot to learn and do...:up:

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This is the time for all entreprenurial nurses to get going, Donald Trump says this is the time.. if you got an idea go for it.. some of us just don't know how to get started, the saying goes if God gives you an idea he'll give you the means to put it in place,

I say these things because I am giving myself a pep talk as well. I want to open up a holistic health clinic but for some reason I think I need to be a NP to do it.. so I am preparing for that now..deep inside I feel I really have enough education, but lack the confidence to move on that dream..without it..

Opening up a holistic health clinic is a big endeavor but not one that needs an NP (or MD) to do if you are offering holistic therapies that don't require a physician order. There are many therapies that can be offered - Reiki, massage, reflexology, acupressure, aroma therapy, music therapy, etc - that don't require a doctor's order. On the other hand, these therapies require training also. So, the question is (and I have questioned myself many times in the same way):

Do I want to provide the therapy or do I want to start up the business that provides the therapy?

If you want to provide the therapy then you must be prepared to give therapy. If you want to start up the business you must be prepared to collaborate or hire the therapists and handle all aspects of a small business.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best and hope the greatest success for you.

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