Perinatal Education Business

[nurturing_angel]

Ok, here's my dilemma.

I am an RN working maternity and teaching a hospital based childbirth ed class. The hospital based classes are free of charge to all clients who take them.

My dream is to open up a perinatal education business and teach private classes. I think I could make this work at least as a part time venture. I would teach regular childbirth classes but also some specialized classes such as comfort measures seminars, cesarean section seminars, baby care seminars, etc. I would also like to offer antecare care and postpartum care visits. I would charge for my classes but have not even ventured into thinking about how much yet. I have been wanting this and planning this for a long time and I am just about ready to launch the "grand opening".

Then this happened:

A friend of mine working at the same hospital but a different department opened up a little sideline business (nursing agency) and was immediately fired for "conflict of interest". I cannot afford to be fired. I need the income my regular job supplies, and especially the insurance benefits.

So what should I do? Forget my dream to assure a steady income or go for my dream and risk living in poverty for a while?

[RN1989]

Only you can answer that one. If you really want this dream badly enough, you will be willing to make sacrifices.

[damarystx]

I see that your post is a few months old but was wondering how things were going with your business if you decided to go forward with it or not. As far as the "conflict of interest" thing, is there a stipulation in your employment agreement regarding this, I think I would have contacted a lawyer just to find out what the laws are regarding being terminated for that if there is not anything in your agreement. I work L&D too and think it is a good plan so I hope it is working out !