Nurses have one of the most important jobs in the country. They also have a very unique set of skills and expertise that is very valuable. So valuable that it can easily be turned into a lucrative business. Many nurses decide to transition to entrepreneurship at the end of their career while others start a small business midway through their career to supplement their income. Out of those, many end up being very successful and dedicating their lives to their business. If you were contemplating the option, here are a few great business ideas for aspiring nurse entrepreneurs.
Nurse Consultant
Nurse consultants help organizations improve their standard of care or supplement teams with the expertise they may be lacking. They may also be called to help solve some specific issues. Operational nurse consultants, for instance, will help facilities improve their operation at every level, such as human resources management, administrations, or finance.
Clinical nurse consultants deal directly with improving the quality of care. They evaluate individual patient care and healthcare delivery systems, identify problem areas, and work with institutions on ways to solve them. You then have legal nurse consultants that provide assistance to law firms and help them evaluate the facts of a case or act as a liaison between lawyers and health care staff.
You should know, however, that credentials are extremely important in this field even if there is no minimum requirement besides you being an RN or NP. The higher the credentials, the more you’ll be respected, the higher you can charge, and the easier it will be for you to get hired.
If you’re a registered nurse with a BSN, then this will probably not be enough to be a successful consultant. But you could go for DNP programs online like the one Baylor University offers. It is the optimal path to getting your degree fast and will also allow you to study while keeping your current job.
Wellness Coaching
There will be a lot of emphasis on wellness in the next few years, and becoming a wellness coach is a great way to capitalize on this. If you have a knack for and a genuine desire to help others, this is a career path you should consider.
There is a lot of competition in this field, but only a few health coaches will have the same knowledge of health and years of treating patients. This is the kind of knowledge that can give you a whole different perspective and help you be more efficient. This can also be a big selling point for you.
Sales Rep
Another area where your expertise can help you would be in sales. Pharmaceutical companies love hiring nurses because they know medication like no other. They often even know medication better than the physicians they work with.
That’s because they’re the ones who have to administer the medicine to patients. It’s also critical for them to know all the latest advancements and changes. They have a clear history of different medications over the years and some of their side effects and limitations as well.
You can also work in other fields. You could sell medical equipment or supplies, for instance. This is another field where there’s plenty of opportunity and demand and where you can use your knowledge to teach clients about equipment and sell them on new solutions and technologies.
Nurse Blogger
Nurses can make great bloggers as well. We should warn you that you shouldn’t expect to make millions overnight with one, but it can be a great side gig, and some have been able to earn a full-time income through theirs.
The most important thing is finding the right niche and the second one is knowing how to monetize your blog correctly. You have to find a niche because there are so many competing blogs and you have to separate yourself. You shouldn’t overthink it, however. It can be something as simple as advice for nurses living in a certain city or part of the country, a certain demographic, like mom nurses, senior nurses, or nursing students, for instance, or one area or specialization.
Starting a blog only takes a few minutes and can be done on the cheap. You could have a blog set up for as little as $20, even less. All you have to do is register a domain and an affordable hosting package. If you’ve never done anything like this, check if the hosting provider offers one-click WordPress installation. This is the best platform for new bloggers, and there are tons of easy-to-use themes that will allow you to get your blog up and running right away.
From there, you can choose to form partnerships, get sponsors, use banner ads or Google ads to monetize your blog. Many decide to sell referrals to nursing schools. So, look at as many monetization methods as you can and see which one would work the best for you.
Specialized Training
You also have the option of starting a nursing school, but that may be a bit too ambitious for you. Instead, you could provide specialized training, either to nurses continuing their education, organizations, or professionals. One example would be offering CPR courses. You are more than qualified to provide those, and you might only need to spend a few hours on your certification. There is also a huge demand for this type of service, as it is a requirement for many positions.
Childbirth Education
Many nurses also decide to work as childbirth educators or doulas. They will help mothers prepare for childbirth and play a great role in preventing childbirth complications. You could decide to work one on one with mothers, but you could also give group classes.
These are all great options for any nurse who wants to transition into the world of business. Know that it’s still tough work, however, and be ready for the uncertainty that comes with it.
