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If you’ve decided to become a nurse, congratulations, you just choose one of the most valuable and in-demand positions in the world today. But while working the floor is something most nurses aspire to at some point, you should know that your formation could also serve as a springboard for a career as an entrepreneur. The healthcare sector is huge, and there are plenty of ways that you can leverage your skills and education as a nurse to start a lucrative business. Let’s take a look at some great business ideas for current and aspiring nurses, and a few tips before you get started as well.
Look at your interest and skills first
Before we start looking at business ideas, you first have to establish what your skills and interests are. While anyone can start a business, you need a particular set of aptitudes and the personality necessary to succeed. Here are some of the things you need to consider first:
- Am I a natural introvert or extrovert?
- Do I enjoy solving problems and am I good at it?
- Do I absolutely want to work in a clinical setting?
- Would I be open to working in a non-directly related field, like wellness for instance?
- Do I have an interest in law-related fields?
- Am I good at identifying negative patterns, and correcting them?
By answering these questions, you’ll be able to narrow down your options and make sure that you pick one that will cater to your strengths. Now, let’s take a look at some business ideas you could consider.
Representative for a pharmaceutical company
If you want to be able to escape the 9 to 5 or make some money on the side, one of the options could be to work as a rep for a pharmaceutical company. Nurses often have first-hand information on all the latest drugs, and know exactly what they do, the side effects, their limitations, and how they should be administered.
This is why pharmaceutical companies are always searching for new and experienced nurses to work as representatives. This is also a job that you could get with nothing but a bachelors. And the best thing is that you can find tons of accelerated nursing programs online that will allow you to get your formation in as little as one year. This is the perfect field for someone who’s just getting started and wants to supplement their income while they work in a level entry position.
Nurse health coach
Becoming a nurse health coach is another great option if you want to be independent and run a small operation. Broadly speaking, the job of a health coach is to work with patients to develop plans that will allow them to make healthier lifestyle choices and reduce the chances of hospitalization. But more specifically, your responsibilities will be to:
- Help patients clarify their health goals
- Work on a plan of action
- Give emotional support
- Make sure that you hold them accountable to their goals
- Celebrate desired outcomes and give some additional encouragement
This is another great field for new nurses trying to earn their chops. “Unlike other registered nurse positions, you don’t need to be licensed at the state level to work as a nurse health coach,” said nursing license defense attorney Robert Weinberg. However, he also mentions that certification can help. “Certified nurses can use their certification to differentiate themselves. The experience they have can also be very useful when it comes to health and wellness coaching.”
The best thing about being a nurse health coach is the flexibility. You can work on your own time, set your own schedule, and take as many clients as you want. And since your services will be paid directly by your clients, you won’t have to worry about things such as billing insurance companies.
Concierge nursing
The job of a concierge nurse is to offer bespoke and in-home care to patients. That’s why these nurses have to be certified in first-aid before taking on such a role. Concierge nurses usually work with clients who are more well off, and who pay out of their own pockets. These will be patients that are going through a specific treatment or health-related issue who can afford to pay for custom care.
One particularly lucrative and interesting niche for concierge nursing is plastic surgery aftercare. Many patients go overseas for plastic surgery and need to stay in their destination for follow-ups. In this case, you could be asked to stay with the patient and provide home care for them.
Fitness nursing
Fitness nursing is another interesting field you could embark on. As a fitness nurse, you’ll have the chance to work independently and help your clients build a fitness and nutrition routine that will take their existing condition into consideration while helping them recover.
Fitness nursing is a combination of disease prevention, physical exercise, and wellness. As a fitness nurse, you might be asked to work with:
- Corporate employees
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Professional athletes
- Sports health clubs
- Surgery recovery patients
This is a great field for anyone with a natural love for fitness and nutrition who would like to work in a different, but related field. It’s also a good option if you’d like to move on as a sports nurse later on or build your own practice.
Legal nurse consultant
If you have a love for forensics, and an interest in law and law enforcement, then you should definitely look into legal nurse consulting. Legal nurse consultants are often asked to examine medical cases, testimony, and healthcare-related facts pertaining to a case. They work with lawyers to look over evidence, prepare litigation, and prove cases. You might also be asked to take the stand in some cases. This is a great field if you like variety, and would like to see a whole other side of the law system.
If you were thinking of becoming a nurse, all of these business options could be open to you. Whether you want to start small, or dedicate yourself fully to your business, make sure that you speak with someone who’s been there before, and who will be able to show you the ropes.
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