LPN starting independent business?

[kfactor]

I am an LPN and have been doing end-of-life/ hospice philosophy care-giving for a year and a half now and I am at the point where I would like to go into business for myself if there is a way to work it legally whatsoever with an RN doing initial assessments etc.. I just am frankly a little stuck with the legalities and would love anyone who perhaps might have an up to date (2014) sense of whether this is at all possible without my having to go back to school immediately for an RN. I have been providing hospice designated client care as a surrogate family member at a 2 bed SFR (surrogate family residence) in Maine and am now moving back to Maryland where I am licensed as an LPN. I really am not wanting to be doing anything other than hospice designated/end-of-life/palliative care and honestly current highly corporate models of long term care is really not what I want to do or feel I can do well given the ratios - yet I know I would be considered lucky to get a med pass nurse job which is what I am currently filling out applications for. I want to continue providing the care I have been trained to do (and was coordinating care provision and doing training for in Maine)here in Maryland but in the role of an LPN and initially just in peoples homes. I actually have people that know me well and have seen my work offering seed money for me to do this as well as a string of family as well as some clinical (RN and MD) references which I hope would help as well but I just am a little overwhelmed by the legalities involved. I do not have quite the resources to set up my own surrogate family residence by myself here yet so I would like to just start with the in home care part of it if possible. Does this sound like something anyone knows is legal or possible at all without my going back for an RN right this moment. I have read some general thoughts about health department registration as well as malpractice insurance - it is really the fundamental capacity to legally provide end-of-life care which I am really struggling to learn about in the role of an LPN or surrogate family member. I am writing the Maryland state board now but would really love any information or suggestions from anyone who is actually doing this currently or who has tried to do this already. Thanks everyone!

[brandymurray3]

I am also looking into working as an independent contractor in Ga. any advice on how to get started ???

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Anyone can set up just about any type of a business without any healthcare licensure at all, as long as they are not actually delivering the care.

I'm thinking that the legalities of setting this up would be somewhat similar to that of a home are agency.

Have you assessed your local market to determine if the services you suggest already exist? If so, is there opportunity for newcomers? If not, is there a demand?

if you move forward, think of forming alliances with existing hospices.

GL

[brandymurray3]

I am trying to get all the legal part in place. Excited!!!!