20 Entrepreneur and Business Ideas for Nurses

by

Ayana Dunn, RN

Updated July 25, 2024

Edited by

Scott Harris

Are you looking for business ideas for nurses? Explore these 20 ideas for one that may reflect your interests and skills.

Credit: Morsa Images / DigitalVision / Getty Images

Business Ideas for Nurse Entrepreneurs

• Private Practice

  More than half of all U.S. states have granted nurse practitioners (NPs) full practice authority, meaning NPs in this state can evaluate, test, diagnose, and treat patients independently, without physician supervision. Other states grant practice authority on a more limited basis.

  While this option is limited only to NPs living in full-practice authority states, this can be a great option for a business-minded care provider. You will need strong clinical, diagnostic, and business skills to maintain and grow your practice. It is important to start with a business plan that identifies every detail, including:

  • Goals
  • Insurance strategies
  • Start-up capital
  • Location
  • Focus of your practice
  • Permits
  • National provider identifier
  • Malpractice insurance
  • Supplies

  Private contracting also can be a strong option for NPs, depending on your goals and strengths. Owning a practice allows you to choose your treatment approach, such as holistic nursing, and control the growth and direction of your practice.

• Career Coach

  The truth is that many people hope to become practicing nurses, but the path isn’t always easy. Career coaching helps nurses help prospective healthcare workers realize their dreams of entering nursing or a similar field. You can guide them through what to expect, help them make informed decisions, and provide emotional support along the way.

  You must be willing to network and market your services. These professionals need to be honest, realistic, and comfortable with explaining the rationales behind their advice.

• Script Consultant

  Admittedly this one is a little less likely than some of the others on this list. But we can still have a bit of fun, and this dream job is very real. 

  Why? Because the world of healthcare is always evolving, and directors and writers in show business need expert healthcare consultants to ensure dialogue is accurate and authentic. These consultants help bring the action to life with characters that are true to both the general public and healthcare professionals.

  Taking a scriptwriting course could ease your ability to collaborate with the film staff. These nurses must be clear communicators, and be willing to contribute to the creative process.

• Medical Spa Nurse

  Also known as cosmetic nurses, medical spa nurses work in the beauty industry. They provide aesthetic treatments under the care of a licensed healthcare provider. Treatments often include noninvasive options to rejuvenate the skin and body, like laser surgery or microdermabrasion. Medical span nurses can work in plastic surgery centers, medical spas, and dermatology centers.

  After graduating from an nurse practitioner training program, NPs must gain experience in areas like dermatology or plastic surgery. They may then seek certification from the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board. Courses are available through the American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery, as well as other organizations.

• Home Health Nurse

  Home health is a fast-growing industry. In 2023, the home health industry employed 1.4 million people to meet the needs of the 71.6 million baby boomers who required care. 

  Nurses who want to start their own agency will require a business plan, employer ID number, funding, and a state license. Earning potential is an advantage, but the rising cost of equipment and difficulty seeking payment from Medicare and Medicaid can be challenging.

• Cannabis Nursing

  As researchers learn more about the body’s endocannabinoid system, cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) oil are becoming more widely recognized and used as tools for combating pain relief and other medical issues, even certain types of cancer. 

  There are several options to get more involved in cannabis nursing. Consultancies and dispensaries are two common examples of workplaces for cannabis nurses. Although the use of cannabis is increasing, it is still illegal or only partially legal in many places. Contact your state government to find out more about the rules in your state.

• Intravenous (IV) Nursing

  Nurses can be certified as intravenous or IV nurses. IV nurses are experts in administering medications and fluids. This may involve an IV line, central line, or catheter, and can take place in a number of different settings.

  As more patients seek care at home, the need for these professionals is growing outside the hospital. There are opportunities for IV nurses to open their own business or join a franchise business dedicated solely to the administration of IV hydration.

  There are advantages to joining a franchise as you start with a recognizable name and support. However, you are limited to using the franchise suppliers’ products and the services the franchise allows.

• Legal Nurse Consultant

  The legal nurse consultant helps law practices assess healthcare laws and guidelines, in part to determine whether laws have been broken. These professionals analyze and evaluate legal documentation and testimonies to offer a medical opinion on the delivery of healthcare and patient outcomes. They may also determine the nature and cause of documented injuries. 

  Nurses must hold an active registered nurse (RN) license in the state where they practice to be legal nurse consultants. They also need strong nursing “soft” skills in documentation, communication, and critical thinking. To sit for the legal nurse consultant certification exam, a nurse must have accrued 2,000 hours of clinical experience within the previous five years.

  This business idea for nurses requires little start-up costs and may be done from the comfort of your home. However, nurses must maintain their own license and certifications and find their own clients.

• Specialized Care Provider

  Nurse entrepreneurs can partner with organizations to fulfill a unique need. For example, after working as a labor and delivery nurse, healthcare professionals with extensive experience in breastfeeding can become certified lactation counselors. Nurses who focus on wellness may practice holistic or alternative medicine.

  In each case, the specialized care provider must have a background in business management, good communication skills, and a drive to help their clients. Most of these businesses require little overhead. However, these are typically not 9-to-5 businesses, so you must be prepared for calls or patient visits any time of the day or night.

• Independent Massage Therapy

  Like nurses, massage therapists must have a deep knowledge of human anatomy. Nurses who want to start their own massage therapy business have the advantage of experience and knowledge of the human body. A massage therapy program can take up to 15 months to complete. Community colleges usually offer these programs. As always, ensure the program is properly accredited before you enroll.

  State requirements for practical experience and certification may vary, so check with your state government to find out about your state laws and regulations. After your education is complete, you may be required to take a licensing exam.

• Acupuncturist

  Practicing acupuncture requires a strong foundation in anatomy and physiology. Acupuncture uses a unique system to stimulate specific points on the body to improve health and reduce illness. It is one of the most researched complementary and alternative medicine practices.

  Accredited acupuncture programs are common in many areas. National board certification confirms the skill level and knowledge needed for a successful practice. Most states also require a certification examination.

  Nurses need a workspace to treat patients, equipment, malpractice insurance, and billing procedures. Nurse acupuncturists may work solo or collaborate with other healthcare practitioners.

• Wellness Coach

  Opportunities for health and wellness coaches are growing. More people are seeking out education and motivation to make lifestyle changes that impact their health. Health and wellness coaches work with nutritionists, fitness coaches, and complementary healthcare professionals to improve client health. Clients may hire a wellness coach to help them lose weight, reduce stress, quit smoking, or achieve a better work-life balance.

  Nurses must complete a minimum number of hours of education and experience. To be board certified, you must graduate from an accredited program. Wellness coaches must have strong assessment and communication skills. This practice focuses on education, motivation, and communication with clients.

  Wellness coaches can work online, over the phone, or in person. How you choose to interact with clients determines your overhead expenses.

• Yoga Instructor

  Yoga is rooted in Indian philosophy. However, in the U.S. it typically emphasizes physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. Evidence shows that this complementary strategy can help people quit smoking, reduce stress, relieve menopausal symptoms, and lose weight.

  The move to practicing and teaching yoga is popular among holistic nurses who focus on using more natural practices to maintain and improve health. Yoga instruction programs range from 200-500 hours, depending on your goal as an instructor.

  Although certification is not required to practice, it does offer you the benefit of teaching in a studio space. As a certified instructor, you may teach classes privately, in a studio, or online.

• Medical or Pharmaceutical Product Sales

  Sales representatives sell medical supplies, equipment, or pharmaceuticals. Their buyers include doctors, facilities, and hospitals. They contact customers, answer questions, explain the product features, and negotiate the final sale. Even when they’re employed by a company, many sales reps work on a commission.

  These reps sell medical supplies, equipment, or pharmaceuticals to doctors, clinics, facilities, and hospitals. It is their job to contact customers, answer questions, explain the product features, and negotiate the final sale. Pharmaceutical sales reps must become a certified national pharmaceutical representative. Once you’ve decided on your specialty, it’s important to get relevant experience. For example, if you are interested in psychiatric pharmaceutical sales, you’ll want to get an internship and shadow a sales rep in that market.

  Nurses working in pharmaceutical or medical sales must be experts at networking, communication, sales, and marketing. This business idea for nurses offers you the opportunity to grow your network independently and develop your sales skills.

• Nurse Health Tutor

  Were you a whiz at writing care plans? Can you list many of the body’s over 200 bones off the top of your head? Do you understand the relationship between the gut and the brain? You may be fully qualified to become a nurse or health tutor who works from home. Nursing students and other students struggling with health concepts look to tutors for help.

  Nurses who want to work as tutors may work for tutoring companies, colleges or universities, or independently. Nurse tutors must have strong communication skills and love serving as a nurse educator. They have patience with their students. Nurse tutors should also have a sound invoicing system. The initial start-up costs and overhead are low. Nurses who work independently must also develop their own marketing strategies.

• Nurse Influencer

  Nurses are already influencers in their immediate circle of friends and family. You likely have been asked several questions about health and wellness. You can also use social media platforms to share your knowledge and insights to even more people.

  You need a professional profile on the social media platforms of your choice, such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or YouTube. It’s easier to establish yourself on one platform before adding another. Nurses can make money on these platforms after building their followers. The more followers you have, the more likely you are to land advertising or sponsorship gigs.

  Nurse influencers create content for posts, network with other influencers, guest post on blogs, and appear in podcasts or videos. The start-up costs may include that of a camera, recording equipment, and marketing.

• Childbirth Educator or Doula Services

  Nurses who are childbirth educators or birthing doulas support their patients before birth, and are often present during delivery. After spending at least two years on a maternity unit, you may be interested in furthering your education and services. This allows you to branch out and work independently of hospitals and clinics.

  A doula offers continuous physical, emotional, and educational support throughout pregnancy and childbirth, but not clinical support. Doulas help women make informed decisions, such as deciding between at-home births versus hospital births.

  The International Childbirth Education Association has a certified professional childbirth educator and birth doula program. It verifies that you have the necessary knowledge and skill to carry out pregnancy, labor, and delivery procedures.

• Health Blogger

  There is no additional certification or education necessary to be a health blogger. However, you must share accurate, evidence-based information.

  It may be easier to put your blog on a site, such as WordPress, but it’s best to purchase your own unique URL. This offers more protection. As your audience increases, you can boost your income by advertising products to your readers.

  Health bloggers must have good writing skills, be efficient researchers, and comfortable with marketing themselves. It can take months to build your audience and earn an income.

• Public Speaker

  Popular public speakers are engaging, entertaining, and great storytellers. Nurses have a lot of good stories to tell (leaving out patient names, of course!). You can captivate your audience with content that sends an important message.

  You’ll need to be comfortable speaking in front of groups or on camera. If you need to gain more confidence, try speaking in smaller groups first and working your way up. If your audience is allowed to ask questions, you’ll need to think quickly about your answers. Public speaking usually involves traveling, and you must have a professional website. Public speakers must be comfortable with networking and marketing their services.

• Nurse Historian

  Nurse historians document and publish changes throughout nursing history. They may also act as historical consultants who fact-check medical details in books, articles, or videos to ensure the creators are accurately representing the nurses’ role. 

  Nurse historians can use their knowledge to be guest contributors on blogs, or maintain their own. They may also write books and scripts about nursing.

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