Nurses don't have to work at the bedside. Many nurses work as consultants. This presentation was given at the National Nurses in Business Associations Annual Conference and explains different roles a nurse can use to begin a business.

1. Hanging Your Shingle(or how to get started in this crazy business of Nurse Entrepreneurship) Presented By: Victoria Powell of VP Medical Consulting, LLC NNBA Annual Conference Nov. 2008

2. Hanging Your Shingle An idiom, meaning ~To start your own business, especially as a doctor or lawyer

3. Objectives List at least 5 different roles a nurse can fill as a consultant Differentiate between a consultant and a contractor List several types of marketing Define terms associated with web marketing Define what success looks like for your business as a nurse consultant

4. Is Entrepreneurship for You? Self starter? Get along with diverse personalities? Good at making decisions? Possess the physical and emotional stamina required? Are you a planner/organizer? Have enough drive? Family support?

5. Consultant vs. Contractor A consultant is a professional who provides advice in a particular area of expertise A contractor is an individual who exchanges with another organization or person usually by way of written contract outlining the exchange

8. Why do it? Ready for change? Answer to yourself? Work from home? Have a passion and drive?

9. Do I have what it takes? What do I like to do with my spare time? What skills have I learned or developed? What do others say about me and what I want to do? Do I have the support of my family? How much time do I have to run a successful business? Do I have any hobbies or interests that are marketable? Is my idea practical? Will it fill a need? Who or what is my competition? What is my business's advantage over existing businesses? Can I deliver a better quality service? Can I create a demand for my business?

10. Why are consultants hired? Expertise Identify problems Supplement staff Act as catalyst for change Provide objectivity To do the “dirty work” Bring in new life Create new business Influence people

12. Life Care Planners

13. Case/Care Managers

14. Elder Care Managers

15. Forensic nurses

17. Paralegal vs. LNC Paralegal assists attorneys in delivery of legal services and requires legal education Legal nurses have obtained knowledge of legal system, but legal education is not prerequisite to the practice of LNC A LNC uses existing expertise to consult & educate clients on specific medical & nursing issues in their cases

18. Law Practices While attorney is the expert on legal issues; the LNC is the expert on nursing and health care system Some work as paralegals Advantages of benefits such as PTO, Health insurance, etc.

20. Learn workers compensation law

21. Can testify as fact witness at hearing before the Commission

22. Many work from home as independent contracts and still earn benefits

24. Defense firms will also hire LCPlanners prior to trial to so insurance companies can determine the expected range

26. Prevent injuries

28. Forensic Nurse Investigator

29. Nurse Coroner/Death Investigator

30. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner

31. Forensic Gerontology Specialist

32. Forensic Psychiatric Nurse

34. Medicare Set Aside Consultant MSA-Portion of a financial benefit (workers compensation, liability, no fault accident) that must be spent on injury related medical expenses before Medicare becomes available Similar to a cost projection or life care plan

36. National Speaking

37. Online courses

38. Writing

40. Ergonomic Assessments Ergonomics is essentially fitting the workplace to the worker Involves the application of knowledge about human capacities and limitations to the design of workplaces, jobs, tasks, tools, equipment, and the environment

41. Getting Started Visit websites for Visit local chapter meetings Network with others Avoid tunnel vision Education/experience Continually analyze strengths and weaknesses Subscribe to journals Read blogs Purchase reference materials Attend conferences Take courses

42. Business Sense Knowledge of accounting principles Business writing skills Marketing principles Mechanisms for invoicing, tracking A/R and A/P, collection procedures Understand chart of accounts Create polished work product Computer skills Research skills Clinical skills-A MUST!

43. Business Marketing Word of Mouth Must have something to talk about Stable and consistent from beginning to end Networking Press releases Business cards Websites

44. Web Marketing Exchange value for time Encourage interaction Respond rapidly Keep it simple Speed is of the essence Show business legitimacy Update content frequently Assign accountability for quality Go easy on data collection

45. Five client test What is distinctive about the site? Is the content valuable? Focused on client needs? Site easy to use? Clarify what the firm does? Would it prompt you to call? Would you bookmark the site?

46. Social Networking Twitter Hellotxt or Ping for management Mego Mix of business and pleasure

47. Last tip for LNC Microsoft One Note Great for research Multiple notebooks with multiple tabs or sections The ultimate in bookmarking Easy to search Holds maps, websites links, pdf, sounds, drawings, and ANYTHING else you need at your fingertips Reminds you where the information came from

48. Success~ What does it look like to you? What is your definition?

49. Success! Definitions: The favorable or prosperous termination of an attempt or endeavor. The attainment of wealth, position, honors or the like The achievement of one's aim or goal The opposite of failure

50. Success! Striving for success does not require competition Boosting others will help you in the long run Envy of others and tearing others down helps no one

51. Thank You! VP Medical Consulting, LLC Victoria Powell, RN, CCM, LNCC, CNLCP, MSCC, CEASII 1201 Military Road, Suite 2, Box #214 Benton, AR 72015 Phone: (501) 778-3378 Fax: (501) 315-3378 Email: victoria@vp-medical.com Web: www.VP-Medical.com