Nominate an Amazing Nurse Whether you have been inspired by the professionalism and compassion of a particular nurse who treated you, a family member or friend, or simply want to highlight the hard work of a fellow nurse you know – nominate an Amazing Nurse who is a hero to you! The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future is honored to sponsor a national contest which spotlights the important role that nurses play in our communities.   The “Amazing Nurses” contest provides an opportunity for the public, patients, and the healthcare community to nominate nurses who continually demonstrate their commitment to the profession as well as the inspirational care they provide to their patients. “We have long supported nurses through awareness initiatives, local education and appreciation programs, and ‘Amazing Nurses’ is yet another example of a terrific program that we can all participate in to provide the national recognition so richly deserved by the countless hardworking and devoted American nurses,” said Andrea Higham, director of The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future.   The winning "Amazing Nurse" and a guest will receive a trip to Los Angeles, to attend the 2011 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute Show on December 11th. The winner will also be featured in a TV commercial on CNN, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.   For more details and to make a nomination, go to www.facebook.com/jnjnursingnotes and follow the contest on Twitter via the hashtag #thankanurse. The Amazing Nurses Contest nomination phase is open now through September 11 and will be followed by a public opportunity to meet the twenty semi-finalists and to vote to determine the five finalists! A panel of judges (all nurses) will judge the finalists based on the finalist judging criteria and select the Grand Prize winner. Nursing Summer Camps These days there are summer camps for almost every interest. Adolescents can spend their summers engaged in sports, computers and even nursing. Several nursing camps across the country are engaging students in unique ways by offering lessons in basic patient care and allowing students to take a peek into the profession they one day hope to join. Several Baptist Memorial Health Care Hospitals in Mississippi and Tennessee offer “Crash Courses” that allow high-school students to work alongside registered nurses and interact with patients and doctors in a real hospital setting. This free program exposes students to the entire healthcare system and helps to better prepare them for nursing school. For those students looking for more of a hands-on learning experience, the Cedarville University Nursing Camp in Cedarville, Ohio offers campers the ability to work in the University’s state-of-the-art nursing labs and interact one-on-one with nursing faculty to learn basic nursing skills. At the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Nursing Summer Camp in Milwaukee, Wis., high-school students learn everything from patient assessment skills, medical computer systems, and even nursing history. With numerous programs offered throughout the nation, these camps are a great way for adolescents who are interested in the nursing profession to receive first-hand experience, all while interacting with practicing nurses who can offer college or professional advice. Learn more about nursing camps at www.discovernursing.com.   National Nurses in Business Association 2011 Educational Conference Calling all nurses who are business owners or interested in starting their own! Registration for the National Nurses in Business Association (NNBA) 2011 Educational Conference taking place November 5 in Orlando, Fla., is now open. This two-day conference will explore new and traditional business opportunities and best practices for self-employed or business-owning nurses. This year’s conference will highlight several aspects of being a nurse entrepreneur, including legal and business issues and effective ways to brand your business. There will also be an on-site photographer and videographer available. For more information about the NNBA or to register for the conference, visit www.nnba.net.

Nurses Extend into Business

Many nurses are expanding into the business arena by starting their own companies or consulting firms

An entrepreneur is defined as a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk. Throughout history, nurses have stepped outside of their patient care role to go out on their own. Take Ruth Lubic, CNM, EdD, for example – she founded the first free-standing birthing center in 1975 in New York City. In 2000, she opened the Family Health and Birth Center in Washington, D.C., which provides care to underserved communities. By taking an entrepreneurial spirit, her efforts have improved the care of thousands of women over the years.

Nurse entrepreneurs, like Lubic, can combine their nursing background with business knowledge and utilize their individual creativity and resourcefulness to start their own businesses, create new and innovative products and form their own organizations. Nurse entrepreneurs can provide a myriad of services from consulting and temporary healthcare staffing services to medical equipment sales and even medical education.

There are many business opportunities available to nurses. Nurses who work to identify and resolve problems within their healthcare facilities could become consultants in their area of expertise, i.e., JCAHO mock surveys, certification, specialty areas of nursing practice, cost cutting, billing fraud, etc. Nurses who offer medical and nursing education to patients, families and healthcare professionals can become nurse educators and even author books on their expertise. For those interested in reviewing care provided to patients and developing new ways to ensure the patient’s well being and safety; legal nurse consultation and case management may be another business avenue to explore.

One group that is providing business-related resources is the Nurse Entrepreneur Network, an online nursing community where nurses help their peers build successful healthcare-related businesses. LeaRae Keyes, RN, BSN, PHN, CCM, Executive Director of the Nurse Entrepreneur Network, started the website after hearing from nurses who wanted to start their own business but didn’t possess the sales and marketing skills to be successful. “I had been running a successful business for over a decade and wanted to share my knowledge and expertise with others by creating a useful resource for nurses who were trying to make it in the business world,” said Keyes. “When I first went out on my own, there was very limited information and support out there for nurses. There are a lot of opportunities for nurses to form their own ventures, just not enough support.”

Patricia Bemis, RN, CEN, President of the National Nurses in Business Association, Inc. (NNBA), is another nurse who took her work into her own hands. “I wrote a book on emergency nursing, while working in the emergency department and decided to open my own small press publishing company, rather than work with a publishing company,” said Bemis. “I was a member of the National Nurses in Business Association at the time and without the valuable help and guidance I received from my mentors there, I would never have been able to branch out on my own.”

The NNBA aims to provide up-to-date information on existing and new business opportunities for nurses and create and offer business education for nurses to start and operate a self-employment venture. The organization acts as a national voice for nurses in business and maintains a networking arena to encourage collegial support for nurse entrepreneurs.

Nurses who are interested in pursuing an entrepreneurial venture but need a “practice round” can try intrapreneuring – an idea coined by Gifford Pinchot, an author, entrepreneur, consultant and blogger. Those who have creative ideas about a new product or system can offer to try it out within their workplace first to get a feel for business development. For example, when Keyes was selling rehabilitation services to companies, she and another nurse developed a separate line of products for health insurers, and worked within her current job to test her idea.

“Starting my own business and becoming incorporated has changed my life, and now I only report to myself! I eagerly jump at the opportunity to help others starting out on their own. There is a lot to learn on the business side of nursing, but at the end of the day, it is rewarding to be your own boss,” said Bemis.

For more information on nurse entrepreneurs, visit www.discovernursing.com.

Sharon Rogone, RNC-E-NIC, CEO of Small Beginnings Inc.

Q: How did you decide to pursue a career in the medical field?
A: I was a science and math major in high school and a candy striper in my free time. The lure to the hospital was always with me – inborn, I guess. My dad was a pharmacist mate in the Navy during World War II, my daughter is a nurse and my son is a surgical technologist. It must be in our family genes.

Q: What was your inspiration behind the Bili-Bonnet mask, and how did Small Beginnings come into the picture?
A: Small Beginnings was a result of the Bili-Bonnet mask. I developed the idea for the Bili-Bonnet after working with preemies as a neonatal nurse. I saw the need for a device to protect the eyes of infants receiving ultraviolet light therapy, a treatment for jaundice, which is common among newborns. I realized I could make a difference, and I began working on a design for a soft and flexible phototherapy mask. I tried to market it with various large companies until deciding to do it myself.  I had no idea what a tremendous endeavor this was going to be or where it was going to lead me. 

At the same time I was writing the patent (which took five years to develop), I was setting up a small business with only one product, which was tough. I passed out fliers and samples at various neonatal nursing conferences and the business began to grow – slowly. At first, I thought it would just be something small to provide a little side income, but then other ideas started floating in my head. I eventually created a product catalog and secured a vendor booth and the rest is history. At times, it felt like I had a tiger by the tail, but it was another amazing experience along the way. 

Q: Did you encounter any obstacles in establishing your business? How did you overcome those barriers?
A: There were many obstacles – money being the first and foremost. It was very frustrating at times because I had a growing business and ideas in my head, but no one would back me with a small business loan. For all obstacles persistence is key, and I always seek input from others. Always surround yourself with intelligent, good, moral and ethical people and weigh all their ideas.  

Q: What has been the most rewarding part of establishing your own business?
A: When I was working as a NICU nurse, I loved it, and I felt very rewarded to be doing something special for my tiny patients. I still miss the bedside and hands-on care. I was dedicated to doing my best for them. But now with my developmental product line I can positively impact many more infants than I ever could at the bedside.

Q: What is the greatest challenge you find in being both a nurse and business owner?
A: I have not worked in the hospital for many years now, but when I started my business, it was before cell phones. I worked in the hospital and carried a beeper for Small Beginnings’ toll-free number. When a call would come in, I would get beeped. Then I had to find a landline to return the call and take and fill the orders. I worked three jobs to make ends meet and to keep the business going. It was not easy and it took a lot of time, cash and guts…especially in the beginning.

As Small Beginnings grew, I had to have help to take and fill orders, and then went into part-time nursing and part-time at my new company. I eventually went full-time at Small Beginnings and then hired more help. The whole process has been challenging, yet exhilarating at the same time. I look back and can hardly believe it has all come to pass!

Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, CPC, Co-Founder of Rives Carlson Coaching and Laughter Incorporated

Q: How did you get started in the medical field, and what is your current position?
A: Over the course of my 15-year nursing career, I have worked in community health, home health, hospice and public health. As a professional writer, I contribute regularly to several health and wellness websites, including BlackDoctor.org, and I maintain my own blog at www.digitaldoorway.blogspot.com. There I discuss issues related to nursing, healthcare, spirituality and my personal life as it relates to the interests of my readers. I currently work as a nurse in several areas of specialized home care. I also have a private practice as a health and wellness coach along with my wife who is a life coach.

Q: What is the history and mission of Rives Carlson Coaching and Laughter Incorporated?
A: For the last several years, we have been working with individuals who are striving to improve some aspect of their lives, be it health, wellness, relationships, spiritual growth or professional advancement. We love to assist individuals to identify their personal goals, supporting and challenging them as they achieve those goals and move forward in positive ways. Laughter Incorporated is our business of bringing the health benefits of laughter and Laughter Yoga to various groups. Laughter has been scientifically proven to greatly benefit both physical and mental health. We lead groups in a simple but effective process that uses the power of laughter to elevate mood, improve health, and help groups bond in ways they never imagined.

Q: What challenges have you faced as a nurse entrepreneur?
A: Owning your own business can be challenging, in that marketing and maintaining a client base can feel like a full-time job, which in fact it is! In order to maintain a steady income, I have chosen to work several part-time nursing jobs while my wife and I continue to develop our business. I work 30 or 40 hours per week, and she focuses her days on growing our business while working from home.

Q: As a certified professional life coach, what is an average day like for you?
A: Coaching in a private practice offers a varied schedule; some days are focused on marketing and writing, while other days are focused on client consultations by phone or Skype. The days may not be predictable, but they are always rewarding on some level.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring nurse entrepreneurs who want to start their own businesses?
A: Having your own business can be difficult, and most small businesses fail within the first two years of inception. Being conversant with the use of social media is crucial, although face-to-face contact is also essential to building most businesses. Your local chamber of commerce and other business-friendly organizations should be an important part of your marketing and business strategy. It's important to have a solid business plan and financial plan, and revisit those documents on a regular basis to make sure you're on track. Most importantly, be clear that you love what you do because it's that love of your work that will see you through the difficult times.

	The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future recognizes the need for nurses to de-stress - so why not take a brief break to focus on your well-being and do something fun! Being a "happy nurse" means taking care of yourself so you can provide the best possible care to others. Starting this month, here and on the Nursing Notes by Johnson & Johnson Facebook Page, you’ll find tips for relieving stress, updates on our new mobile app game, Happy Nurse™, and information about the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT) program and our nurse scholarship winners. We recently caught up with the Johnson & Johnson/ Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT) scholarship program winners to check on their progress, and they had some great feedback. Scholarship winner Liz Lattuga, RN, at Southhampton Hospital in eastern Long Island, N.Y., had this to say about her expectations for the program, “I’m looking forward to the self-care aspect of the program. Nursing is such a stressful job and I think this (program) will help me to be able to replenish the tank and be a better person overall. I think it will show through with my patients, family and really everything I do in my life.” Listen to the entire interview as part of our Nursing Notes Live podcast series on our iTunes page or at the Nursing Notes by Johnson & Johnson Facebook Page. Coming in early August, check out our new Happy Nurse™ Facebook tab where you can post your Happy Nurse™ game score, review some de-stressing techniques or even post your own stress-relieving tips to share with fellow nurses.