Category: Nurses

From Nurse Keith’s Digital Doorway

I recently attended the 2018 annual conference of the National Nurses in Business Association (NNBA) and I was reminded that many nursing professionals would like to be business owners but aren’t sure how to get started. That lack of business acumen is both prevalent and understandable.

While I’m not specifically a business coach for nurses, my career coaching practice and experience as a nurse entrepreneur has taught me a thing or two about getting a business up and running.

What Does A Business Do?

Before we get to my top tips for launching your nurse-run business, let’s talk about what a business actually does.

A business identifies a pain point, problem, or need, and then delivers a product or service to solve that problem to a customer willing to pay for that solution.

Since the days of people living in caves, nothing has really changed about the nature of business. When a particular cave dweller found that he had a skill for making weapons out of bones, other cave dwellers may have realized that they really wanted to “own” one of his “products”. Since money had yet to be invented as a means of exchange, barter was likely the way of the world. So, a cave woman who was skilled at making herbal remedies may have traded her herbal salves for a knife made of bone. In this way, both parties received a product that solved a vexing problem.

When money came along, barter was no longer necessary, thus those with the financial means could essentially trade currency for a product or service.

As a “nursepreneur”, you may not be making knives out of bones, but you may have developed a product that solves a problem, and you’d like people to give you money for it. Take Wayne and Dawn Nix of RNVention as a prime example: this husband-and-wife nurse team invented the Multinix, a brilliant tool that solves many problems for busy nurses with only so much room in their pockets.

Basically, Dawn and Wayne saw a problem (nurses running around their units looking for various tools to perform a multitude of tasks) and they created a product that makes those nurses’ jobs easier by combining functions that would decrease nurses’ need to seek out different tools throughout the course of a shift. And voila, the Multinix was born.

This exemplifies the process of identifying a problem (nurses’ myriad tasks to accomplish), identifying the target market (nurses in busy clinical settings, generally hospital-based), and creating an affordable and well-made product that solves the identified problem(s). Of course, a brilliant product sometimes doesn’t fly off the shelves for various reasons, but those who see or work with the Multinix feel strongly that it’s absolutely the bees’ knees and a godsend to busy nurses everywhere.

Now that we’ve reviewed one example of how a product or service can solve an important problem — specifically for nurses — let’s look at my top 10 tips for those desiring to jump into the world of nurse entrepreneurship and nurse-run business.

Tip #1: What’s your idea?

A business almost always begins with an idea or a story. Perhaps you’ve invented a physical tool like Dawn and Wayne Nix, or maybe you’d like to start a home health agency targeting homebound seniors whose adult children would like a private duty nurse like you to manage their care. And maybe you have a gripping story that explains your motivations for starting this new venture — those stories can communicate so much about your passion for your project.

• Identify your idea
• Ascertain if there’s a compelling story behind your idea
• Solidify and sharpen your idea and story

Tip #2: Do your research

Most people do a fair amount of research before they go to the trouble of launching a business venture. You need to be fairly certain that there’s a viable market for your product or service; this includes making sure that the people for whom you’re solving a problem are actually seeking a solution for that problem. A great product without a target audience is a product that may never see the light of day.

If you plan to manufacture a physical product, you’ll need to do deep research regarding:

• Developing a prototype
• Finding a trustworthy manufacturer
• Understanding how distribution will take place
• Applying for a patent or trademark
• And so much more

Tip #3: Identify your target market/niche

Your research will reveal who your target market or niche is, and your mentors and other advisors may have helpful information for you in that regard. The general idea has always been that “the riches are in the niches”, meaning that a narrower niche will often be more successful than a business that tries to serve anyone and everyone.

For me, the niche that I’ve identified for my career coaching services is registered nurses, and that’s a pretty big niche! I even work with some APRNs and nurse practitioners. As other coaches and counselors begin to enter this same market, I may choose to narrow my niche to, for instance, mid-career nurses who need career counseling and support; so I watch the market, see who’s coming to me, and continue to monitor if my target audience needs to change in some way. Being willing to pivot and flex is certainly the order of the day.

Tip #4: Seek support in setting up your business

Starting a business can be a complex undertaking, so getting support is essential. You can seek out a mentor, hire a business coach, or discover if your local municipality provides any services for new business owners.

I cannot recommend the National Nurses in Business Association highly enough. The NNBA provides access to a national community of like-minded nurse entrepreneurs, and the annual conference in Las Vegas is the flagship event that any business-minded nurse would be prudent to attend.

There are plenty of business coaches out there, including some who are nurses associated (or not) with the NNBA.

If you need to find out if there’s a small business support center in your local area, try Score.org, and they’ll pair you with a local mentor who will often be a retired businessperson who volunteers their time to help people like you.

Finally, just talk to people who run businesses and pick their brains!

Tip #5: Choose a name for your business

Your business will certainly need a name, so think carefully about this. The name of your company will be on your website, social media platforms, business cards, letterhead, checks, credit cards, etc. also

Tip #6: Create a structure

An important part of your business startup is creating a business structure. This is an important decision in the process. Your business will generally be an LLC, S-Corp, J-Corp, or sole proprietorship. Seek out advice from legal counsel, your local Score office, or other reliable sources.

Tip #7: Set up your finances

Once you’ve decided on a structure, you’ll probably want and need to separate your personal and business finances. In my own experience, this was simple: after forming my LLC, I went to my favorite local credit union where I do my banking and I opened a business checking account, a business savings account, and applied for a business credit card. For my own peace of mind, I keep track of transfers I make between my personal and business accounts, but you should definitely check with your accountant or bookkeeper about what data they would like you to make note of.

Tip #8: Create your web presence

Every business needs a web presence, even if that business is a “brick and mortar” entity. Designing and building a website isn’t rocket science, but it’s admittedly complicated. I chose to hire a web designer to build my site, and I’m happy I did. If you have the wherewithal to build your own, go for it but be sure you ask for help when you need it!

Your business will also need to be on social media — it’s just the way that 21st-century businesses operate and it’s what consumers expect. Don’t feel you have to set up an account on every platform known to humans — choose the places where it seems your target audience hangs out. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, SnapChat, LinkedIn — these are the main social media sites that average Americans use regularly, so see what makes sense for you.

Tip #9: Hire reliable help

Aside from your mentors and other helpers in #4 above, you will also likely hire contractors or employees at some point in the course of running your business. I currently have a podcasting coach, a social media coordinator, a web designer, a tax preparer, and a podcast producer. In the past, I’ve also hired a graphic designer and a business coach. I actually did almost all of these things on my own at first, but quickly realized that I couldn’t do it all and needed to focus on earning money, not learning a thousand new skills all at once.

Being able to hire people takes cash flow, so having some reserves is helpful, or you may need to take out a small business loan. Or you may simply do it all until there’s enough money coming in to cover expenses.

Tip #10: Be nimble and willing to pivot

My final piece of advice is to be willing to pivot as you move along in the life of your business. In this economic climate, businesses need to be nimble — markets shift, consumers change, and your needs or goals may also evolve over time.

Nimbleness is paramount — can you be a flexible business owner ready to roll with the changes and punches?

Bringing it All Back Home

This list of my top 10 tips for launching your nurse-centric entrepreneurial endeavor is not exhaustive by any means. Again, a business coach or other mentor is often essential to getting things jump-started, and I’ll repeat that the National Nurses in Business Association (NNBA) is a great resource not to be overlooked — where else can you find other nurses with an entrepreneurial mindset?

Good luck, and remember to reach out to skilled professionals who can support you on this exciting road! Go forth and conquer!

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Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, is the Board Certified Nurse Coach behind NurseKeith.com and the well-known nursing blog, Digital Doorway. Please visit his online platforms and reach out for his support when you need it most.

Keith is co-host of RNFMRadio.com, a wildly popular nursing podcast; he also hosts The Nurse Keith Show, his own podcast focused on career advice and inspiration for nurses.

A widely published nurse writer, Keith is the author of “Savvy Networking For Nurses: Getting Connected and Staying Connected in the 21st Century,” and has contributed chapters to a number of books related to the nursing profession. Keith has written for Nurse.com, Nurse.org, MultiViews News Service, LPNtoBSNOnline, StaffGarden, AusMed, American Sentinel University, the ANA blog, Working Nurse Magazine, and other online publications.

Mr. Carlson brings a plethora of experience as a nurse thought leader, online nurse personality, podcaster, holistic career coach, writer, and well-known successful nurse entrepreneur. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his lovely and talented wife, Mary Rives.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

New research conducted by the George Washington University School of Nursing’s Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement has found that nurses “continue to be underrepresented as sources in heath news stories despite their increasing levels of education and expertise.”

The study, which is a replication of the 1997 Woodhull Study on Nursing and the Media, identified nurses were listed as sources in only 2% of health news stories, a decline from the original Woodhull Study, which found representation of nurses “in less than 4% of health news stories.”

Though nurses are well-educated and intelligent, the study shows a bias exists. The researchers noted that participants indicated prejudices endure in terms of positions of authority, and that “rock-star doctors” are a preferred source. It was noted that this mindset stems from “newsroom cultures,” and some participants said they have had to defend using a nurse as a source in the past.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

From Nurse Keith’s Digital Doorway

The Millennial generation (those born between approximately 1980 and 2000) are the new majority in the 21st-century workforce (see this Pew research study identifying this cohort as 35% of the overall workforce), and Millennial nurses are on their way to dominating the nursing profession.

As one generation wanes and the other rises, power changes hands, and this is happening at this very moment as Generation X and the Baby Boomers reach retirement age and leave the workforce in droves.

Every generation is disparaged and criticized by the generations that came before, and Millennials are no exception. However, I hypothesize that the Millennial generation is going to positively transform nursing, medicine, and healthcare for the better, not to mention society at large.

(Please note: writing about any generation as a whole is potentially problematic due to the fact that generalizations must be made. My apologies in advance for any statements that don’t quite apply to everyone — this is simply an attempt to capture observations of the power and potential that this enormously influential generation holds in its collective hands.)

1. Minds Wide Open

Millennials grew up as the 20th century came to a close and the 21st century was getting underway. In my opinion, one of the greatest attributes of Millennials is the fact that they came of age at a time when the tolerance for so-called “alternative lifestyles” peaked.

Homosexuality, bisexuality, same-sex marriage, and new forms of family are now widely accepted in many segments of society and are thus reflected in popular culture. Millennials don’t seem to think twice about two people of the same gender falling in love, getting married, and raising a family — it’s a lifestyle choice worthy of equality and respect.

In terms of gender identity, Millennials are heartily accepting of “the new normal” in contemporary culture. Gender fluidity is seen as a positive attribute, and anyone living a lifestyle on the continuum of transgender identity are equally recognized as having a legitimate right to live any way they choose. Rigid definitions of what it means to be masculine or feminine are breaking down, and Millennials appear to see any means of safe and non-violent self-expression as positive.

In healthcare, medicine, and nursing, this translates into a growing percentage of the workforce being accepting of whatever gender expression, family structure, or lifestyle is practiced by their patients. For patients and their families, this opens the door to a decreased need for defensiveness, the reluctance to seek care, and fear of judgment by healthcare providers. And if patients feel this level of personal safety in the healthcare space, this scores a goal in the interest of reaching more people and families in need, especially those living in the shadows of society.

2. They’re Our New Leaders

While many may automatically picture Millennials as being in their 20s, at the time of this writing the oldest Millennials are actually pushing 40. As mentioned above, a full 35% of the workforce are Millennials, and as the largest segment of that workforce, they are emerging as leaders in every industry.

Regarding healthcare, medicine, and nursing, Millennials are poised to become administrators, Directors of Nursing, executives (CEOs, CNOs, CFOs), and leaders at every level. In nursing, we see Millennials emerging as nurse theorists, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, inventors, innovators, and influencers.

New leaders bring new ideas, and while they may encounter some resistance from any corner of the individual workplace or the industry/profession at large, the force of change related to a generational shift in leadership is inevitable.

This generation is approximately the same size as the Baby Boom (80 million is a common number thrown around), while Generation X is sandwiched between the two at approximately 60 million.

I personally feel great optimism when it comes to the manifestation of Millennial leadership at all levels. From the ICU and the operating room to the realms of politics and economics, Millennials will continue to assume power and have influence over every aspect of society for a number of decades to come.

3. Tech Savviness Abounds

“They’re always on their devices” is a common complaint about young people these days (but I see just as many older people glued to their iPads and smart phones). At any rate, the members of the Baby Boom and Generation X are the people who created these technologies, thus we cannot realistically hold Millennials accountable for using the devices they were raised with.

The oldest Millennials were in high school when the Internet came into popular use in the mid- to late-1990s. Cell phones also emerged around this time, followed by smart phones run by Android and iOS. Meanwhile, the youngest Millennials born around 2000 have always known these technologies as normal aspects of everyday 21st-century life.

In terms of the healthcare sphere, Millennials generally have a relatively high degree of comfort and facility when faced with new software, apps, and novel digital platforms. Whereas the majority of Gen X’ers and Boomers had to work hard to adapt to life in the Information Age, most Millennials have an intuitive understanding of computers and tech, and they’re very savvy. This bodes well for a healthcare infrastructure being increasingly impacted by artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and other technological developments. No doubt that the next decades will see even greater acceleration of technology vis-a-vis healthcare, medicine, and nursing.

This video offers a glimpse of some of the potential changes being predicted for the coming decade:

4. Entrepreneurship is Mainstream

The option of becoming an entrepreneur is not anathema to Millennials; in fact, anecdotal evidence points to the notion that this new generation embraces entrepreneurship as a valid way to make a mark on the world. According to a frequently cited study by Bentley University, 66% of Millennials would like to start a business and 37% want to work “on their own”, whatever that means.

Creative business opportunities, new ways of thinking about work, and general optimism about the power and potential of individual accomplishment all underscore the Millennial belief that self-employment is a very viable workstyle/lifestyle option.

In the nursing sphere, Millennial nurse entrepreneurs like Brittney Wilson, Kati Kleber, and Lacey Magen are forging new paths for those who want to follow in their positive (and extremely savvy) footsteps.

5. Flexibility, Boundaries, and Self-Care

The general understanding is that Millennial workers have come into the workplace demanding increased flexibility in relation to time spent at work. This can be perceived as laziness and a less than stellar work ethic, but many argue that the 21st century calls for flexibility on all levels.

For Millennial nurses, working in the mainstream medical milieu does not allow for much flexibility: rigid work hours, issues around continuity of patient care, and organizational needs rule the day.

However, anecdotal evidence so far shows us that Millennial nurses are much more self-aware when it comes to their own needs for self-care and time away from work. Mandatory overtime? Not a Millennial construct. Boundaries are important to this younger generation, and emotional and relational intelligence are key ideas that are widely embraced.

Ask a Millennial if she’ll work a double in her wedding anniversary or birthday, and she may say something akin to, “Sorry, but I have plans to do something fun with my husband that day. My marriage is important to me and I deserve the time off”. There’s nothing wrong in my book with such clarity around personal needs and the practice of setting firm personal boundaries.

Millennial workers aren’t shy about asking for flexible work schedules, and they aren’t afraid to say no when asked to work shifts they don’t want. Gone are the days (well, not altogether) when nurses would bend over backwards for the team in spite of their own need to rest and take time off. They don’t necessarily teach nursing students how to have personal boundaries and say no, so the younger generation of nurses is learning to do that for themselves.

Can Millennial leaders successfully disrupt healthcare from the inside and do away with outmoded labor practices that don’t prioritize worker well-being? Granted, more conservative Millennial leaders will adhere to older generations’ standards, and this will no doubt cause rifts and disagreements in relation to how to best provide consistently high-quality care while paying attention to staff wellness.

6. Mission, Ethics, and Being “Woke”

Another thing I love about the Millennial generation is that social change, ethics, and morality are very important to this enormous cohort. Having witnessed the aforementioned popular acceptance of same sex marriage, gender fluidity, and other new social constructs, many Millennials identify as being “woke”, meaning they’re hyper aware of progressive social issues in line with their way of seeing the world.

Police brutality, homophobia, environmental degradation, gender equity, transgender equality, and other societal issues of the day are important to Millennials.

In the workplace — whether healthcare or otherwise — Millennials want employers and organizations with clearly defined missions. They also want to know that the place they work and the work they do are aligned with their personal values; after all, part of being “woke” is knowing that you’re walking your talk in as many aspects of your life as possible. Basically, hypocrisy is simply not an option.

There’s a lot more to love about this younger generation, including those who are nurses. I’m personally highly optimistic about the overall idealism, values, “wokeness”, and moral/ethical concerns of Millennials. I also believe that the new nurse leaders who will be gaining influence and power within the profession will bring sorely needed new life and breath into nursing at a time when critical changes continue apace within medicine and healthcare.

Meanwhile, generational differences can be overcome and positively exploited if we pay attention to our thoughts, fears, and attitudes, and try our best to get to know and understand our colleagues. Millennials and Boomers may have different philosophies about work, loyalty, and careers, but we’re all human beings and we can find common ground if we try. Our employers and managers can also assist us in bridging the gaps and finding ways that our different areas of strength can synergistically work together and complement one another.

I also hold out hope that this generation will continue to be highly engaged in the important political and cultural debates of our time, and I’d eventually love to see Millennial nurses taking over the leadership of the ANA and other notable nursing organizations. And if more nurses choose a life of public service by running for office in state and national government, all the better — we absolutely need more woke nurses in state houses, governors’ mansions, Congress, and yes, even the White House some day.

Pay attention to this powerful generation of Millennial nurses; they’re coming soon to a workplace near you, and their individual and collective influence will make them many friends and some significant enemies. Millennial nurses are the new backbone of healthcare and the nursing profession, and they will leave a powerful, positive, and indelible mark on healthcare, nursing, medicine, and society at large in the decades to come.

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Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, is the Board Certified Nurse Coach behind NurseKeith.com and the well-known nursing blog, Digital Doorway. Please visit his online platforms and reach out for his support when you need it most.

Keith is co-host of RNFMRadio.com, a wildly popular nursing podcast; he also hosts The Nurse Keith Show, his own podcast focused on career advice and inspiration for nurses.

A widely published nurse writer, Keith is the author of “Savvy Networking For Nurses: Getting Connected and Staying Connected in the 21st Century,” and has contributed chapters to a number of books related to the nursing profession. Keith has written for Nurse.com, Nurse.org, MultiViews News Service, LPNtoBSNOnline, StaffGarden, AusMed, American Sentinel University, the ANA blog, Working Nurse Magazine, and other online publications.

Mr. Carlson brings a plethora of experience as a nurse thought leader, online nurse personality, podcaster, holistic career coach, writer, and well-known successful nurse entrepreneur. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his lovely and talented wife, Mary Rives.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.