How to Be a Successful Nursepreneur with Catie Harris
Being a successful nursepreneur doesn’t happen overnight. As nurses, we can handle anything when it comes to our patients. But how about running a business? As I have mentioned, overnight success doesn’t happen right away. There are steps to that, but what are they? How can you become a successful nurse entrepreneur?
In this episode, we would like to introduce you to Catie Harris, a NursePreneur Mentor who has empowered thousands of nurses in business to monetize their knowledge and skills while inspiring them to change the way healthcare is perceived and delivered. She strives to undo the perception that nursing care is limited to the hospital setting. Through her intensive nurse business coaching program, Catie shows nurses around the world how their hard-earned knowledge and skills can transcend the hospital system into a profitable business.
QUESTIONS FOR GUESTS
The questions below are some we’d like to tackle. We often go off-topic, so we don’t expect to hit them all. If you have any ideas, please let us know.
Looking forward to our conversation!
These are the questions you had in Calendly. We’ll go off your questions and wherever else our conversation goes.
Can you give us a background about yourself?
What made you leave nursing and become an entrepreneur?
Nursing gives you income stability which allows you to focus more on your business and not have to necessarily worry about the financials all the time.
Most businesses take 2-3 years to see some income being generated.
How can nurses dig beneath the surface of their careers to find passion, purpose & profit?
We often do not understand the power that we have as nurses. The difference we make individually extends far beyond the patient, student, or colleague whose life we change. Each of us has the power to create a ripple effect.
What is the origin of nursing purpose to getting into healthcare? Can we channel our purpose into other places?
What are some business ideas that you’ve recently seen nurses participate in?
ENDING QUESTIONS
Before we end the show, we have one last question we like to ask all our guests.
If you had the opportunity to have a Cup of coffee with anybody one last time, who would it be & why?
To learn more about being a successful nursepreneur, watch our full episode here 👇👇👇
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 Introduction 01:56 About Catie Harris 03:49 How has your purpose changed 04:35 Nursing traits that you can use in business 05:35 The pain points of starting a business 07:11 How passion started 09:45 Discovering your passion 12:31 How do you pass success to your clients 14:30 How to deal with not profitable 18:09 Successful nursepreneur businesses 21:18 How to look for the right people to work with 22:36 Hospital Leader vs Entrepreneur Leader 24:30 Overcoming imposter syndrome 25:50 Struggles of running a business 27:41 Big mindset shifts as an entrepreneur 29:34 Failures and motivations 31:49 Balancing work and life 33:42 Tips on starting a business 35:52 How to keep the business organized 39:00 Wrapping up the show
Of all the nursing career paths to choose from, travel nursing is perhaps the most flexible one of them all. This post will talk about the different reasons why you should be a travel nurse today. Read on for more.
10 Reasons to Be a Travel Nurse
If you consider a different area of nursing to work in, a travel nurse is an excellent choice. Do you love traveling? How about exploring various locations? Perhaps you want a broader network in terms of work? If you answered yes, this job is the right one for you. Here are fifteen of the best reasons to become one.
1. You get to travel around the country.
One of the main reasons many nurses sign up for this job is the job title itself, TRAVEL NURSE. It means you get to go across the country (or world) for it. Now, if this tickles your fancy, go ahead and find an agency that can help you get an assignment.
2. Advancement in your career.
Like any other nursing career, there is also career growth in travel nursing. Of course, you get to grow this job at your own pace. With your experience as a travel nurse, many medical staffing agencies can help find you a job that matches your skills and specialty. So, don’t worry about not getting a job as there will always be one open for you.
3. You get to enjoy the location of work.
One of the best things about this job is that you get to enjoy the location before saying you are done with it. A typical travel nursing assignment can last around three weeks to 3 months. If you enjoyed working in the health care facility you are assigned to, it feels more like a vacation than work. Not a lot of job has the same opportunity.
4. There is job security in travel nursing.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an estimated job increase of 16% until 2024 in the travel nursing department over the next few years. That means your job is safe and secure even in the coming years.
5. Contracts are flexible.
One of the reasons you should become a travel nurse is that the contracts are flexible. It means you are not stuck on one long contract as most assignments are short-term. That said, you avoid experiencing nurse burnout as you don’t have to deal with work-related stress all the time.
6. Sign-up bonus.
Travel nurse agencies offer sign-up bonuses to nurses who want to become travel nurses. If you are looking for extra income while working, this could be an excellent opportunity to grab.
7. You get low-cost or free housing.
When you sign up as a travel nurse, your agency will offer stipends for your housing needs. Some agencies will even cover the housing expenses for their travel nurses, so you don’t have to worry about where to stay on your next assignment [1].
What’s even better is that you will live with other travel nurses or live close to them when you are assigned to a new location. There’s never a dull moment when you work this job.
8. Pay is great.
As travel nurses, your work is not full-placement; this means you get to enjoy a high salary. A travel nurse’s salary is 33% higher than the average staff nurse’s. An average income for travel nurses is $75,330 to $108,000 per year [2]. And if this sounds like a good deal for you, you better sign up as one soon!
9. Paid health insurance
Since you are traveling for work, travel nurses can rest with the thought that your health insurance is paid. Many medical health agencies pay their travel nurses’ insurance before sending them out. It saves you time and effort securing one.
10. Traveling is paid.
You don’t have to worry about your next assignment or what to pay for. Many travel nurse agencies secure that their nurses are not only paid for work but also for traveling. You can be in Hawaii for summer before you know it, given that you have an assignment there, of course!
Bonus points as travel nurses:
You can save enough money for your retirement.
Your network expands as travel nurses can work with different people in the medical field. The more contacts you have, the more exciting opportunities await you.
Getting a multi-license is possible. Since you work in different states, you will need licenses too. Your travel nurse agency can help you acquire these licenses to get you going for work.
As you move around for work, there is always a chance for continued education. You never stop learning as a nurse, and this line of work is the perfect fit for you.
Some travel nurse companies offer referral bonuses to nurses who can refer others to sign up for them, and if your agency provides the same, then lucky you!
Working as a travel nurse is exciting and perfect for those who want to earn more. Hopefully, the list above convinced you enough why you should become a travel nurse today. Good luck!
There are plenty of us who work the night shift, and nurses, in particular, have ways to survive the night shift. Now, if you are a new nurse and are assigned on your first night shift, here are ways to get through the night.
9 Ways to Survive the Night Shift
Working as a night shift nurse can be both rewarding and demanding. Depending on where you are assigned, you can either love your assignment or hate it. So, how can you survive working the night shift? Here are nine ways:
1. Set your night shift schedule.
One of the first challenges you will encounter as a first-time night shift nurse is sleep. When you are used to sleeping at night, sleeping during the day may be problematic. To avoid this, clear a schedule when you will sleep after your shift and then stick to it. Of course, this will be entirely up to you.
2. Stick to a routine that works for you.
Time management is essential as a night shift nurse. Create a routine that works and stick to it. Whether scheduling your time with friends, family, or yourself, a schedule that works for you is vital.
3. Get enough sleep.
Working on a night shift can mess up your body clock. That said, you must create an environment conducive to sleep. A quiet, darkened room, an eye mask, and disconnecting yourself from everything can help you get the sleep you need [1].
4. Keep caffeine to a minimum.
One of the ways to survive the night shift is drinking coffee or caffeinated drinks. Although this helps keep you awake, drinking too much caffeine is not healthy. It is recommended to drink coffee about 20 to 35 minutes before starting your work to keep you alert for the night. It would also be best to limit your coffee to at least two cups.
5. Bring healthy snacks and stay hydrated.
It is common to get hungry at night time. If you think you will be hungry on your shift, snacks can help you. However, I would recommend you eat a full meal an hour before going on your night shift [2].
Choosing healthy snacks to bring is essential. Keep in mind that gaining weight is easy when working a night shift. Our metabolism is slower at night, which also makes our digestion slow. Healthy snacks like nuts, fruits, salad, granola bars, and other healthy options are excellent if you don’t want to gain weight.
6. Watch your health.
Many night shift workers are prone to health risks, which is why sticking to a healthy diet is a must. As a nurse, you must check your health as well. Insomnia, diabetes, increased blood pressure, colds, and a weakened immune system are just a few of the health issues that night shift nurses may experience.
7. Keep yourself busy.
One of the many challenges of night shift nurses is to stay awake throughout the night. It is hard to keep your eyes open when you don’t get enough sleep the day before your shift. To keep yourself awake, find activities that can help your stay up all night.
When I was doing my night shifts, one of the ways that helped me stay up was to arrange the supply closet. I made sure that everything was in order and checked for lacking supplies. Not only did it make the supply closet neat, but it was also easier to track which items were out.
You can also find activities like that. Keeping yourself busy for the night will keep your mind awake and alert.
8. Mingle with your co-workers.
One of the ways to survive the night shift is to form a bond with your co-workers. Spend time getting to know the people you are working with and form new friendships. It will make things easier at work, especially at night.
Remember, there are only limited people to ask for help during night shifts, and the ones you can rely on are each other. Socialize with your co-workers, and you will see that work is accomplished accordingly.
9. Simple exercises can do the trick.
Keeping yourself busy is helpful but staying active is another way to keep you awake. Simple exercises like walking or stretching can keep your blood pumping. When your body is awake, your mind is too. So doing a few simple exercises will keep you up all night.
In Closing
Working the night shift is not always easy, but there are ways to keep you alert and ready. Do your research, too; you may find other ways to help you survive the night shift that is not included in our list. It will help you prepare and take care of yourself better.
Finding your voice as a nurse is challenging for some of us. And sometimes, whenever we try to speak up, something gets in our way. Sometimes, we listen more to others than ourselves. We fail to listen to our voice and we forget that we even have one. We are caught up with so much noise and what people tell us to do.
But it is time we start listening to our own. We must find our own voice and speak up about what we want. How can we do that? Is there a process? What happens when we find our voice?
In this episode, we would like to introduce you to Andrea Dalzell, also known as @theseatednurse. She studied biology and neuroscience while earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Andrea was diagnosed with transverse myelitis at the age of 5 and began using a wheelchair full-time at the age of 12. She is an advocate and inspiration to many nurses around the world.
QUESTIONS FOR GUESTS
The questions below are some we’d like to tackle. We often go off-topic, so we don’t expect to hit them all. If you have any ideas, please let us know. Looking forward to our conversation!
These are the questions you had in Calendly. We’ll go off your questions and wherever else our conversation goes.
Can you give us a quick bio about yourself?
What was one of your biggest struggles in becoming a nurse?
How difficult was it to be a nurse or land your first position in your situation?
How did you find your voice through your disability?
“Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Access”
How are you advocating for creating more diverse and inclusive nursing environments?
Disability is the fastest and largest growing minority in the world. Without disability inclusion, we could be limiting opportunities for our future selves.
What is some advice you have for women who roll?
Nursing can seem intimidating or unattainable to someone who uses a wheelchair because of the physical demands, but that doesn’t mean they are out of reach.
The misconception comes with the fact that a disability means you’re incapable. Not true.
What are the future goals that you’re pursuing? It can be nursing or broad.
ENDING QUESTIONS
Before we end the show, we have one last question we like to ask all our guests. If you had the opportunity to have a Cup of coffee with anybody one last time, who would it be & why?
Find your voice by clicking on the full episode here 👇
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 Introduction 02:01 Going through life with a disability 05:53 Life, liberty, and the pursuit of access 07:10 Bias in Healthcare 12:09 Advice for overcoming fear and adversity 17:17 How to solve roadblocks in nursing 25:47 Overcoming the feelings of judgment 30:52 Other success stories 32:26 Finding acceptance and what is normal 39:07 Creating change for people with disabilities 41:09 How other countries accommodate disabilities 42:24 Managing time while in NP school, building a nonprofit, and starting a new career 46:55 Coffee with grandma one last time and role models 49:33 Wrapping up the episode
What is a Rapid Response Nurse With Sarah Lorenzini
When it comes to emergency response, a rapid response nurse must face it with complete confidence. However, not all nurses are as assertive and confident in emergency situations. It usually happens to new nurses or nurses who are just starting their careers and are not entirely used to emergencies.
Some nurses can handle the stress, while some may panic or avoid these situations. How can nurses respond to crises with ease and confidence? Can this be learned? How can we empower nurses to handle emergencies?
In this episode, we introduce you to our guest, Sarah Lorenzini. Sarah is a Rapid Response Nurse, educator, and podcast host who teaches nurses how to respond to emergencies. She is passionate about empowering nurses with confidence and competence to advocate for their patients.
QUESTIONS FOR GUESTS
The questions below are some we’d like to tackle. We go off-topic, so we don’t expect to hit them all. If you have any ideas, please let us know. Looking forward to our conversation!
Sarah, can you give a little background about yourself?
What is your nursing experience?
How did you get into Rapid Response?
What does a rapid response nurse do?
2. Your day-to-day process for responding to emergencies.
How important are team dynamics during an emergency and nonemergencies?
3. Over the years of traveling, we’ve noticed that units with close nurses perform better as a team during admissions, troubleshooting, and emergencies.
4. What is something you believe every nurse should know when it comes to emergencies?
Are some universal steps to use during an emergency or in preparation? Ex; ABCs, looking at detailed notes at the beginning of the shift.
5. Where do you think the biggest flaws are regarding rapid responses and codes?
What do you think needs to change or focus on? For example, quicker identification of a deteriorating patient, access to supplies, lack of education on the first steps of action, poor communication…
6. The smartest nurse can struggle in an emergency; how does the body react to a stressful situation, and how can we harness our SNS to help us?
7. Intuition is something that builds over time, but it’s just like confidence. A lot of time, we doubt ourselves. How can nurses use that intuition?
The one we always go it is talking about what you think, almost like getting a second opinion from the nurse. Something simple as saying, “I’ve had this patient for the last 3 nights, and his belly looks bigger. Can you take a look and see if it looks distended and feels hard? Do you think he might have an obstruction?
8. Rapid Response and Rescue course?
What made you make it?
What is it about?
ENDING QUESTIONS
Before we end the show, we have one last question we like to ask all our guests.
If you had the opportunity to have a Cup of coffee with anybody one last time, who would it be & why?
Do you want to be the best Rapid Response Nurse? Learn all about it in this full episode; click here 👇
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 Introduction 01:47 About the Guest 04:55 Qualities of a Rapid Response Nurse 07:34 ER vs. ICU 10:34 What does a Rapid Response Nurse shift look like? 14:56 What nurses should do and know when having a patient 20:50 The dynamics of taking care of the patient 23:12 What does a Rapid Response Team compose of? 26:54 What nurses should know before calling the rapid team 31:42 How to overcome stress and panic in an emergency 41:20 How to be confident and How to help build confidence in others 48:40 Magnet-status hospitals 50:07 Course for Rapid Response 54:16 Wrapping up the episode
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