Any thoughts on my idea.

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Hi Everyone,

I'm an RN for 20+ years with experience in a bit of everything. I recently left my last job doing Case Management for a Health Insurance company back in November after doing it for the past 7 years.

It's time to get back to work and I am dreading looking for work in Nursing again but it's the only career that allows me to afford to live because I live on my own. I just turned 50 years old a few months ago and I've decided I need a serious change in my career. I'm very unhappy working my butt off and I'm getting burnt out mentally and physically. I have some physical ailments now after back breaking work in Nursing that it's causing pain when working.

I've thought long and hard and I truly want to work for myself. I don't want to do any physical aspects of nursing. So I have an idea that I wanted to run by you guys and pick your brains to make sure I'm not going into this blindly.

I would love to go to my clients homes and just educate them on all their medications. I would offer education on their medications and whatever supplements they may be taking. I know how difficult it is for patients to keep track of their medications especially if they are changed frequently. I could go over what other supplements they are taking. Teach them about what each medication is for, what to not take together such as, waiting to take certain medications after taking antacids,. etc...

I think teaching one on one in the comforts of their homes would decrease medication mistakes. Since I would just focus on that I can take my time with just the medication aspect of their care.

I don't know if I'm walking into something that I would step over my Nursing duties, possibly stepping into the role of MD or Pharmacist. Of course, I would never steer them away from how the doctor wants them to take their medication. Which I would never intentionally do.

Can you help me kick start my thoughts and ideas on this business idea. Do you know where I could get more information about this? Anything I should worry about?

Any Laws I need to think of? I live in Florida now.

I truly appreciate your advice.

Theresa

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This sounds like home health minus the wound care/med administration / vents, etcetera. What is the advantage for the client to take your service as opposed to a home health agency that would provide teaching along with the physical tasks? How would you be reimbursed? Would insurance cover your services?

I am not sure about your specific nursing background, nor what services are in demand in your region, but what about home infusion nursing or home dialysis? I think that those specialties do not require backbreaking work, but again, I am not sure if/how insurance would reimburse a freelancer.

I wish you the best. One of the great things about nursing is that you have the freedom to try new things.

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This sounds like home health minus the wound care/med administration / vents, etcetera. What is the advantage for the client to take your service as opposed to a home health agency that would provide teaching along with the physical tasks? How would you be reimbursed? Would insurance cover your services?

I am not sure about your specific nursing background, nor what services are in demand in your region, but what about home infusion nursing or home dialysis? I think that those specialties do not require backbreaking work, but again, I am not sure if/how insurance would reimburse a freelancer.

I wish you the best. One of the great things about nursing is that you have the freedom to try new things.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Biggest question - how will you get paid?????

Seems to me the folk in most need of such a service would be the least likely to be able to afford you. Esp when they can get FREE info from their pharmacy or their doctor office.

And then there is that ever ubiquitous internet to provide info (for the computer folk).

Sorry, I don't see a market for it.

PP has some good advice to consider.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you came on here looking to do something that didn't involve the "physical aspects" of nursing, I would be suggesting you do case management for an insurance company. Perhaps you need to rethink leaving that job or try it with a different company. A friend of mine with severe, debilitating arthritis works for United Healthcare and loves it.

I don't think your idea is a plausible one. I wish you the best of luck.

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Thank you everyone for your thoughts. I think I'm going to look into starting a non medical home care business.

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Specializes in Pedi.

Presumably the patients who would need this service would either be on Medicare or Medicaid. You would have to open a Medicare/Medicaid Certified Home Health Agency to be able to bill for these visits.

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

Have you considered being a Patient Advocate? That would utilize your healthcare knowledge, but would not involve patient care.

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Hi, Could you tell me what duties that would entail?

Thank you

Theresa

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