Nurses are an essential role. They are the backbone of healthcare, and their work not only improves the quality of care that patients receive, but they also reduce the risk of death and save lives. It is already a great, rewarding role, and yet there are so many options where you can take your background in nursing and use that background to start your own thriving business.
The type of business that you can operate, and your options, will of course depend on where you are located.
If you operate from within the eNLC or the enhanced nurse licensure compact, then you will have greater freedom in where you can move and also what you can do if your goal is to also start a business that revolves around your background in nursing. This is because you have a multi-state license, so finding the most favorable conditions for your business aspirations is a matter of research and taking the leap.
If you currently practice in a state that does not operate with the eNLC, then you will need to either work within the rules set out by your state, or alternatively re-certify in a state that does have the conditions you are looking for.
Though your options and what you can do in terms of starting a business as a nurse will always be restricted by the rules and regulations in place, all five of these options are possible and will help you fulfill your aspirations of starting a business and being your own boss.
Practice Independently
There are multiple nurse practitioner roles available that will allow you, as a highly qualified nurse, to practice independently and autonomously. Three of the most popular options are to work as a Family Nurse Practitioner, a Certified Nurse Midwife, and also that of a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Operating independently means that you can open your own practice, meaning that not only will you be working and operating as a nurse, you will also be a business owner.
Family Nurse Practitioners are working to fulfill the shortage of primary care physicians. They train to analyze and care for the health of those at all ages, or in other words provide family care. In 24 states currently FNPs have full practice authority (FPA) and every year more states consider using highly trained FNPs to offset the shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in low income or rural areas.
Like Family Nurse Practitioners there are many states that provide independent practice autonomy. Midwives, officially referred to a Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) practice autonomously in over 25 states. The states that offer this autonomy are typically the states that have the highest percentage of midwife-present births.
Pediatric nurse practitioners can start their own private practice in 22 states.Outside of these states you will need to practice with the supervision of a physician or specialist, and can only work underneath these roles in a more supportive role.
The level of education necessary to start working in these roles, however, can be high, making it difficult to operate independently with your own pediatric clinic – something essential, as most states are facing a shortage meaning that, even in the best-case scenario, there are around 500 children to one pediatrician. In the worse-case scenario this number jumps to 2,500 children per one pediatrician.
Pediatric acute care nurse practitioner programs don’t stop at the MSN as well, and to become a pediatric nurse you will need to earn your DNP. The good news is that this works to safeguard your career from a similar push from ADN to BSN occurring with the MSN. The MSN will always be important, but in the future APRNs may need to also earn a doctorate program in the future.
Double-certifying will also work to help make your clinic stand out, as it means that you have the training and know-how for both preventative and specialist care, and also in acute care settings.
Work as a Location Nurse
There are so many projects and locations that require on-site medical staff for the short-term. Rather than hire a nurse internally to go from project to project, it is better for companies to hire a local medical team to both improve the health and safety efforts and alsoprovide emergency first aid and ongoing medical care for the workers.
You can work on these projects on your own, or you can start a business that these project organizers can outsource to. Both options are excellent ideas when it comes to working as a nurse, and also starting your own business.
Nurse Consultant
There are so many instances where people will need a nurse to consult. From planning a new hospital design, to script doctoring, to looking through the health and safety guidelines on a new project. Nurse consultants work independently and behind the scenes to improve the quality of care and the design of healthcare as a whole. Where you work is limitless, and as you are not working directly with patients you have far greater freedom in terms of where you go and what you do. Consulting can take many different forms as well, so you can customize your business to how you see fit.
Writer
Have a flair for writing and a career in nursing? Your specialist information can help you start a career (and an independent business). Write nursing articles, contribute to journals and academic research, be a script doctor, and more. There are so many instances where you can take your expertise and a flair for writing and either transition to a career you are in charge of, or prop up your current nursing career.
Childcare Provider
Another great job idea for those nurses who have a background in pediatrics or family health is to work as a childcare provider. Starting up a daycare or working one-on-one can mean combining your love of children and childcare with your expert medical history in nursing. Parents who have the means would be thrilled to work with a daycare or childcare option that can guarantee the health of their child.