The important role that nurses play in our society cannot be overstated. From their bedside manner to their deep medical understanding, nurses have long been the backbone of our healthcare system. Now, many nurses are transitioning to a new and influential role: nurse entrepreneur.
With unique insight into what the healthcare industry needs, nurse entrepreneurs can create businesses that help patients and nurses. Many nurses have successfully made the shift from practicing nursing to running a business, and their nursing skills play a big role in their ability to perform well.
NURSE ENTREPRENEURS: HEALTHCARE BUSINESS EXPERTS
Nurses with their wide experiences in the healthcare field and professional experiences can become nurse entrepreneurs in the healthcare industry. Much like other entrepreneurs, they identify a need in the marketplace and conceptualize and build a business that fills that need. They may offer independent nursing services, such as patient care or consulting, or create and sell medical devices or home health care products. Others take on writing or coaching roles.
Just like any entrepreneur, nurse entrepreneurs usually take on a great deal of risk because starting a company always comes with the possibility of financial loss. They may have to work to find investors and experts to help them successfully launch their business.
It is highly recommended that nurses with their expertise in the healthcare system are required to identify a problem and fill with their skills and create a business idea to help alleviate the problem. In short, like any person launching a business, nurse entrepreneurs should carefully research and consider their moves to ensure they bring the right product or service to the right audience.
It will take long hours and undoubtedly some setbacks to get the business off the ground. Entrepreneurship is no easy task, but nurses seem to be up for the challenge. In fact, for many nurses, entrepreneurship helps them avoid nurse burnout and apply their skills in new and exciting ways. Whatever the specific nurse entrepreneur idea, it’s easy to see how nursing skills can help professionals easily transition to running a business.
NURSING BACKGROUND TRANSLATED TO A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Research has revealed that entrepreneurs were 125% more successful if they had previous jobs, especially in the field where they were starting a business. That means nurses have a good chance of succeeding when launching nursing-related businesses given their background in the healthcare field.
Many nursing skills translate nicely into entrepreneurship. Outside of all the scientific knowledge, nurses must possess, they also have a plethora of skills they use in their professional nursing careers that help them transition perfectly into the entrepreneur role. Communication being the most important skill for any business official, nurses should be able to communicate with professionals and patients from a wide range of backgrounds daily. This helps them when they start a business because they’re able to connect easily with various stakeholders and customers.
Apart from the communication skills nurses are expected to have wide industrial knowledge, nurses have been on the front lines of the healthcare industry and understand it in a way that outsiders simply can’t compete with. As mentioned above, this experience makes them exceptionally prepared to be successful entrepreneurs.
CONCLUSION
There’s no clear path to becoming a nurse entrepreneur. While most nurse entrepreneurs hold multiple nursing degrees and have extensive professional experience, each nurse entrepreneur’s path will be different, and that’s to be expected. The important thing is to be thoughtful in your approach.
