ANY OTHER ENTREPRENEURS?!?!

I've diversified out of the traditional nursing role so I can be home with my kids and "work" from home..... and I LOVE it! I never minded the hospital "owning" my time till I had kids and I found I was trying to fit my time with my kids/family AROUND my employment.

I tried the nutritional field and lost my butt over 5 years and then added Global website technology and have done great there. How many of you have either left Nursing entirely or have another business while still in Nursing?? How do you like it?

I am also a Nurse entrepreneur, and have been in a variety of nursing businesses over the past 10+ years. I've done nursing consulting, conducted continuing ed seminars on the road, home health agency owner, private duty nursing company owner, and some legal case review. What is your web business all about? (Just curious). I think that being a nurse is the most versatile career, because you can do so many different roles and functions. Keeps you from getting bored. I am also convinced that more nurses need to try out their entrepreneurial wings. While nursing is GREAT, hospitals can be toxic environments. One reason that I became an entrepreneur was because I felt that the hospital was sucking the life out of me as a person. Nurses can practice their art and science without being employees of toxic environments.

Yes, I am an entrepreneur too! I have started a DME business specializing in a new bowel therapy equipment that I just got approved by the state of California Medi-Cal system. I don't plan on having any employees. I am out-sourcing the billing, but I am not sure how to educate people in the medical field about this new equipment. Any suggestions? I was thinking of offering a referral fee for qualified leads that ultimately receive authorization form either their private insurance or medi-cal.

Sharon

That's AWESOME!!! What is your business?? You mentioned Bowel... is it like bowel training??

Employees are a hassle, but without it will you have any free time at all?? I'd also not do referral fees due to liability there, but how about hitting up the MD offices and take donuts or something and do an inservice?? Get some of your doc friends to help spread the word!! I did that when we started our corporation. A few months ago I also diversified with Mela on-line, and the extra $4,000 to $6,000 monthly for what I call "playing" on line has been great...

Tell us more about your program and we can help you know how to get the world out!!

:-) CONGRATS!!!!

Linda/RN
BizNurse@satx.rr.com
www.Ex-FrustratedNurse.com

Hi everyone...I'm new to this site...I've been an IC for about 4 years doing primarily private pay home care/visits and extended hrs/case management...this past year however I've taken a different course....aesthetics....took classes in botox injuections, sclerotherapy, medical skin care...LOVING it...been busy and learn ing a great deal...recently joined forces with another aesthetic RN and we are going to teach this new "trade" to other RN's....will include botox, sclerotherapy, laser hair removal, dermabrasion and medical skin care....any interested RN's please contact me here or my e-mail
paulettevrem@cs.com thanks and good luck

I worked as an RN for ten years, and for five of those, wrote on the side. Then I got a three-book deal from my publisher, and left nursing. That was eleven years ago. I've written and sold 20+ novels to major publishers. Until now, just writing has worked wonderfully, and I've been able to support my family on just writing income. But the publishing industry is going through some upheavals, and I'm looking at pulling my license out of storage as one possibility during this publishing change.

Every career path has its bumps.

Yeppers... I completely understand that. I started a medical cost containment / medical fraud investigation corporation in 1991 and then managed care killed that field... We moved to supplement income with a business built totally on line so I could work it around my kids, and it's done better than I ever dreamed of with a nice recurring monthly income now...THANKFULLY! There WAS no RECURRING income with Nursing.... LOL!!!

I totally admire you for writing books!! Are they about Nursing?? Where can we buy/order them???

<font color="blue"> </font color>
Linda/FCLS, CMAS, BS, RN *NOW stay at home MOM*!!!
EMAIL - BizNurse@satx.rr.com
AOL I.M. - NetEmpowered

Excellent going! What books have you written? That is so interesting! I will tell you what you can do with that talent....write instructions for, like, anyone. Have you read instructions for the operation of some medical equip.? OMG where do they get these folks.

Nothing so glamerous as your internet ventures but...I became so fed up with nursing once that I went to the mall and got a job selling clothes at Lillie Rubin. When those gals started acting like some of my previous coworkers I decided it would be better to get paid while enduring the stress. I am back, still stressed, getting educated and working on getting out but in a higher economic manner. What type of internet businesses are you guys doing?

Shoot, not sure ANY business is glamorous!! LOL! Just as with our corporation, it takes effort to grow a successful business, but at least now I can do so in my PJ's in front of my computer! LOL!!!

I just heard that we're 200,000 Nurses short in hospitals!! WONDER WHY?!?!? Sadly, they don't have a clue. When Healthcare because a big BUSINESS, that's when they lost MY loyalty. I reviewed a hospital billing a few days ago where an AICD was billed, and the hospital cost (per invoice) was $23,000.00. HOWEVER.... they BILLED the patient/insurance $90,300.00!!! Sorry, but $67,000 mark up is a big high!!

YOU BET I'm glad to be out!! Guess I always had ENTREPRENEUR RED in my blood and I'm just not sure I could go back to "busting butt" for ANY boss...

What type of degree change are you going for?? Feel free to email me privately do I don't miss a note...

Linda/CMAS, BS, RN *NOW stay at home MOM*!!!
EMAIL - BizNurse@satx.rr.com
AOL I.M. - NetEmpowered
ICQ - 10383018

What books have you written? Sounds very interesting

I have been an RN for 17 years, finished an MBA 3 years ago and have been doing mostly accounting/HR/CIS work as I build up some skills for working in hospital upper-management. I also do some (too much ) internet development work on the side running some software support sites with the time I don't have

I guess I'm one of the oldies, having been a nurse for 29 years!! I was an LPN for abt 5 years, then finished a BSN, then an MSN. Nursing is an incredibly diverse career opportunity. I have done a number of different things in the world of nursing, and I've owned my own business for the past 8 yrs. It is my belief that most nurses who think they are tired of nursing and want to leave the profession are ACTUALLY tired of the hospital environment and NOT necessarily of working as a nurse. We must broaden our horizons, folks. Nursing, when viewed outside the context of the hospital, offers many diverse opportunities. HOWEVER, as previously stated on this forum, being in business for yourself requires HARD WORk, and some risk-taking. If you must have a guaranteed income and guaranteed health insurance provided by your employer, starting your own business may not be for you. But, if you are flexible, hard working and willing, many RN's can be successful entrepreneurs, I believe. The ideas for businesses in nursing, which still involve using one's nursing expertise and skills are only limited by your imagination. Think outside the box!

> and it's done better than I ever dreamed of with a
> nice recurring monthly income now...THANKFULLY!
> There WAS no RECURRING income with Nursing.... LOL!!!

Recurring income. The Holy Grail of the self-employed. Writing is supposed to provide recurring income -- with more than twenty novels out there, you're supposed to be able to live off of royalties. Unfortunately, chain bookstores and legislation have changed the way the business works until it's become pretty brutal just to stay alive.

> I totally admire you for writing books!! Are they about
> Nursing?? Where can we buy/order them???

I wrote one about an RN working in the ICU -- it's out of print now, but my publisher does have it online and available in its entirety for free in a non-print form. The title is Sympathy for the Devil. It starts in Hell, literally, and after this very brief intro, moves to Dayne in the ICU.

Currently in print books are available at local bookstores or online -- I write primarily fantasy novels, though I have written one SF novel and am currently working with my agent to see if we can move me into other fields.

I feel a bit awkward about taking this topic so far off of nursing, so rather than list my books here or other writing information, I'll just link to my homepage -- if you're interested, everything is there (check Author and Shops for book info), and if you aren't I haven't spammed the site with what would essentially be an advertisement for my (very non-nurse related) novels.

Allen Ayres does great work. He's the one who made this forum look the way it does now!

Thanks Allen!

I have been a nurse for over 10+ years

I have started an on-line continuing education site--different than the rest. We launched in July and are still in the growing/learning to walk stage. Was lucky enough to find a partner who is a web-designer so everything will remain cutting edge and I do't have to worry about the technology side of it. I dream it she makes it!

What prompted me to start this venture? I was sick and tired of the same old stuff at outrageous prices at times you had to either give up sleep or a day off. <I work night shift> So I decided to provide quality education, at an inexpensive cost and get feedback/suggestions from other nurses about topics--the more unusual/unique the better.

Oh, by the way did I mention I taught high school before becoming a nurse.

I'm Just starting to get my"baby" off the ground. Still working with a great nursing agency and will most likely continue to do so. Extra income, back up and get to stay in the field so to speak without the stress of working "for a hospital".

Good luck to all with their ventures mine has made a major difference in my life.

By the way my friend <the webdesigner> and I are starting a network/portal to help support and nurture women who decide to be entrepreneurs/work at home Moms, etc. I'm sure all of you have faced the challenge of building what others consider to be your "NICE LITTLE HOBBY" Look for us to launch <font color="blue"> </font color> FrumpyHousewives.com <font color="black"> </font color> soon.

holly-
I ready your novel this afternoon "Sympathy for the Devil" was marvelous I am definitely going to your homepage. Thanks for the great read

Just couldn't resit the pick. If math doesnt kill me and for some reason I actually get into nursing school,, no prob. But if math does kill me. You might need a web site called www.frumpyhubbies.com for the stay at home dads. But I have checked ur site out and passed it along to some nurses where my wife works. It's agood site and hope it does you proud. Have Great week End.

Jerry

Hello Everyone,

I was looking for something I could do while working from home and caring for my daughter. Came up with the idea of building a large nursing website, http://www.nursefriendly.com

It's been up since 1997, generates steady monthly income and with any luck will fund my retirement when the time comes (a few decades away).

If you're interested in trying the same route, I'd be happy to mentor. I've been working the web for a while, can give you straight answers on what will work and what won't.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursefriendly.com

Hi there. I am new to this forum and am very interested in being in the continuing ed business. I have taught a class "Spanish for Medical Professionals" for the last 10 years at a local college, and am now putting on my own one day, on-site workshops. Any ideas on how to market this to other area hospitals would be greatly appreciated.
Stef
www.midwestmedicalspanish.com

Hello Stef,

Lots of options out there.

1. You could start your own continuing education company, apply to the AACN and other associations for CEU provider approval (it sounds like you may have done this already).

2. You could partner with a company that is already providing continuing education and offer your courses and share a portion of the revenue that comes in. This would take advantage of their established hospital client base and save you the marketing/credentialling process.

3. You could start developing your lessons, teaching manuals into an HTML format. Start a membership site where for a fee, hospital staff or consumers could access your lessons online for a fee. Maybe offer the "beginner" materials for free and as people look for more advanced topics, offer the "subscription only" materials.

4. From your website which would already offer free "teaser" material, offer hard or electronic copies of your lessons that can be purchased either in book (hard) or electronic formats.

5. Place ads on Pay Per Click search engines, http://www.payperclicksearchengines.com under medical spanish related terms. That way, when people go looking for translators, interpretors, medical spanish courses, your website would come up.

6. Contact other nurses doing what you're doing, ask if you can do some kind of cooperative agreement that would be mutually beneficial.

Off the top of my head, the following nurses come to mind.

Linda B. Jenkins RN BSN PHN ACCE, California Nurse Entrepreneurs:
Specialty Areas: Childbirth, Labor Videos in Spanish, Medical Surgical, Obstetrics OB, Prenatal
http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com/jenkins/
******************************************************

And:

Pilar Fleige RN
http://www.spanish4nurses.com
******************************************************

Personally, I'd focus trying to develop the online offerings. There are only so many seminars you can teach in a day, week or year. If the information was online, an unlimited # of students could access it on a daily basis (each paying the appropriate fee of course )

Like your site by the way

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com