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11 Steps to writing a killer Bio

Boss, business owner, entrepreneuer, Nurse Boss, nurse entrepreneuer

These days, Nurses are being called upon to connect with projects that extend beyond the bedside. We write, speak, and serve in various capacities. Therefore, the professional nurse should always have a full biography ready to submit at any time.

Your bio, short for biography, is defined as ‘written history of a person’s life’. Let’s discuss 11 steps to creating a great bio; one that will impress.

In case you need a short bio, use three to four sentences in length but if you need a bio for a special event or publication you should complete a full bio.

Steps

Step 1: Write your bio in the third person.

Step 2: Put your name, title, credentials, business name, type of business and entity (LLC or corporation, or sole proprietor).

Step 3: Briefly state your “why”. This should be one sentence that summarizes why you do what you do.

Step 4: Add a problem that you seek to solve in life or speak about what fuels you.

Step 5: A brief history. Use the dip theory (dipping or deep diving). This is where you delve deep into your emotions and bring out the human side of you. This is not long in length. Speak about any challenges or obstacles you have faced in your life? No one is perfect, and that is okay. This should be a very brief statement that will connect you emotionally to the reader. Tragedies are often our springboards into something greater than ourselves.

Step 6: “Time to go high!” It is now time to share your highlights and things that you have accomplished, this is where you can brag on yourself, your awards, any recognition you received, and achievements.

Step 7: Advanced successes such as opening a business, or becoming an author, and/or speaker. This is the next level, and these are big leaps or higher-level accomplishments.

Step 8: There are certain professional organizations that you should be connected to within your profession. Always strive to learn, grow, and stay in tune to what the current events are in your chosen field. Keep your skills up, stay fresh and available to learn and use new content. It is suggested that you attend a conference every year; if not, go every three, to five years at the very least to stay abreast of new industry trends. Then, come back to apply that knowledge as well as share with others.

Step 9: Any contributions or collaborations are placed here. For example, if you’ve served as a freelance writer, add that information along with the specific projects you have worked on. Include community service projects, performance improvement leadership and/or nonprofit work that you might have been involved with. We should always give back.

Step 10: Speak on your family, your hobbies and what it is that you love to do so people can connect with you outside of the professional arena. It will humanize you.

Step 11: The last thing you should add is your contact info. Your email, social media platforms and business phone number.

This serves as a step by step approach to including all that you need for a full bio, you are able to then take clips from it and submit short bios if needed. Drop me a line at michelle@michellerhodesonline.com and let me know if this helps.

Michelle Green Rhodes, MHS, RN, CCM, CMCN

Michelle Greene Rhodes, MHS, RN, CCM, CMCN

CEO Michelle Rhodes Media LLC

www.michellerhodesmedia.com

How to start a Travel Health clinic: The perfect niche for an NP.

aprn, Author, business owner, entrepreneuer, Nurse Boss, Nurse Business Owner, nurse entrepreneuer, nurse practitioner, Nursing Leadership, Nursing Professor

by Dr. Nancy Dirubbo, FNP, FAANP

The Perfect Niche for an NP-Owned Business

Many NPs who want to start a business are looking for a niche. While I started a primary care practice for women in 1985, I was ready for a change. I was looking for a niche that could provide me with a part time practice that would allow me flexibility, low stress and a healthy income. I wanted to be free of the ever increasing, administrative burdens of managing a traditional fee for service practice. Those tasks that were taking me away from face to face delivery of patient care that was so important to me.

In my waiting room I had a digital picture frame with photos from my trips. Patients would see it and ask me for advice about their upcoming trips. What shots do I need? How can I prevent traveler’s diarrhea? Should I take malaria pills? It occurred to me that there was a need for this type of service in my community and it could be a practice I could do part time.

In 2008 I opened Travel Health of New Hampshire, PLLC (www.travelhealthnh.com). I operated it on a limited basis side by side to my primary care practice until 2015 when I retired from primary care and now I operate the travel clinic part time.

Why do I think travel health is perfect practice model for an NP owned business?

1. Low cost to start – you can easily open a travel clinic for less than $15,000.

2. Perfect model for a cash only practice since most insurances wont cover travel health anyways.

3. Low overhead- you don’t need a lot of space or fancy equipment.

4. Low need for staff- I actually don’t have any. A full -time travel clinic could run with an NP and one staff person.

5. It’s easy to learn what you need to gain expertise in travel health online. Great for new grads. (www.BeaconCEU.com “The Comprehensive Course in Travel Health”.

6. You don’t need sophisticated business skills to run it successfully.

7. There is an online program that teaches you step by step how to start and run a travel clinic (www.BeaconCEU.com “Owning, Opening, & Operating a Travel Clinic”).

8. Great add on – you can add travel health as another revenue stream to an existing practice.

9. Flexibility – see patients when you want, no call, and you can do this part time while you work for someone else. Ideal for someone who wants time with their family or as a semi-retirement business.

10. And it’s fun! Patients are happy to come see you. You can spend 45 minutes to an hour with your patients and really get to know them.

Travel health is an exciting field in health care that is a perfect practice for an NP owned business. What are you waiting for?

For more information contact Nancy Dirubbo, DNP, FNP, FAANP, Certificate in Travel Health at ndirubbo@BeaconCEU.com

Learn how this RN started a lucrative scrub line

Uncategorized Boss, business owner, entrepreneuer, Medical Scrubs, MSN, Nurse, Nurse Boss, nurse entrepreneuer, Scrubs

By Tina M. Payne, RN, MSN

Launching a business can be exciting as well as stressful. In August 2017, while working as a Telemetry float pool nurse, homeschooling 3 of my 5 children, being a wife, and taking care of my infant son, I founded Grace Health Scrubs. Grace Health Scrubs is a premier mobile and onsite uniform retail business located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is one of very few uniform businesses which is owned and operated by a nurse in my area. Our company is growing steadily and we are partnering with local hospitals, doctor’s offices, and nursing programs.

We have a convenient website that allows healthcare professionals to shop 24 hours a day. As a nurse and business owner, part of purpose is to empower and share with other nurses that they have a unique advantage within the scrubs market that scrub manufacturers have yet to realize. The insight that we have based on years of wearing one specific product can really offer a lot of value to scrubs distributors and manufacturers alike.

Medical uniforms, also referred to as scrubs or nursing scrubs, are a necessity in our ever-growing economy. As long as there is a need for medical care, there will be a need for scrubs. Wearing scrubs is most often a requirement of healthcare professionals but is also expanding to other service industries such as housekeeping, massage therapy, and cosmetologists, just to name a few.

There is a global need for scrubs as well. Hospitals are one of the top employers who require medical scrubs in the world. In hospitals, there are doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel, and other personnel who are required to wear departmental colors such as all blue, grey, green, or even white uniforms.

Although scrubs are constantly in high demand, not all styles, colors, and sizes are readily available for purchase in regular stores – which is where you come in. I have heard many nurses say they only have Walmart in their local area to buy scrubs from. There may only be a handful of stores in your area, and it is guaranteed that they will still not carry every possible brand, size, or color desired by everyone needing them, so many consumers must resort to online shopping instead. As a result, why not be the bridge in your community and provide a needed service?

This article is geared towards the experienced healthcare professional wanting to start a viable business that will require in-person and online sales. So whether you are a nurse, nursing assistant, doctor, or lab technician, you likely will have a lot to bring to this business, including your insights as a consumer of scrubs, as well as your network of healthcare workers and colleagues whom you already have a relationship with. Having a solid network and relationships in this business will take you further than you can imagine. Over time, the uniform business can be lucrative and rewarding.

On my business journey, I have had many people inquire as to how to start a scrubs business. Earlier this year through my blog platform and Facebook group for moms and nurses goalsofaceomom.com, I provide support, encouragement, and tips on starting a business. As a result, I have since launched a coaching business, helping other women and nurses to start their first business. As part of an upcoming series about the scrubs business, this post will outline 7 basic steps to starting a scrubs business.

HOW TO START A SCRUBS BUSINESS IN 7 STEPS

Step 1: Create a Business Plan

A business plan can seem intimidating at first, although breaking it down into smaller pieces will help. This is the step a lot of people skip and find out later that they really needed a business plan. Outlining your business structure, budget, marketing strategies, and future plans will surely put you in a better position to obtain the necessary funding and create a more appealing business entity.

Step 2: Business Registration and Licensing Requirements

You will need to establish your business entity with the Secretary of State office within the state you reside in. Go to their website or call the office if you have any questions about registering your business.

Next, apply for a business license from your local municipality. This serves to acknowledge the existence of your business in your city. This license may have a variety of titles depending on your location, it may be “vendor’s license”, “sales tax certificate” or “business license”. Also, if your state has a sales tax, apply for a tax account with your state department of taxes as you will need to collect sales tax on items sold. Get a tax identification number too, or an employer identification number with the Internal Revenue Service. If you have a previous or current business which is related, contact a tax attorney or lawyer with regards to establishing a DBA or “doing business as” entity.

However, if you are still not sure about all the licensing requirements to become a medical scrubs and uniform retailer, you can contact the Uniform Retailers Association (URA), which is a non-profit trade association dedicated to the growth and prosperity of the independent uniform retailer.
Step 3: Get Capital

Having capital is the number one thing that can make or break a business. Use your business plan for guidance. Create a budget for operating cost, expenses, etc. There are a few ways to go about this if you don’t have the cash yourself.

Get a business credit card or loan
Raise funds through events such as yard sales, GoFundMe fundraisers, etc.
Seek out an investor
Take on a partner
Take time and save up the money needed to launch your business

Step 4: Learn the needs and wants of your customers

Before you start a business, you have to be sure that you are solving a problem. Some ways to find out information is by sending out polls to your healthcare network by email or social media, conduct surveys, and research the requirements of the local hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, etc.

Find out the most common brands, colors, material preferences, etc. that the staff in your location wear. In addition, you may want to visit the hospitals and medical facilities and request their staff uniform requirements, including color and style parameters, and ask about the uniform material preferences. Just remember that knowing your customers’ desires and behaviors will help you in your marketing strategies.
Step 5: Lease the best building and/or Launch Your Website

If you have decided to open a brick and mortar space, the capital you have raised will hopefully cover your first year of expenses. Brick and Mortar shops are at a minimum a 6-figure operation and it will take a lot of funding to open one with full inventory and staff for the first year. So please take the time to consult with a business strategist and accountant if this is your preferred route. So, after you have done all of that, you want to make sure that your building or storefront is in a great location, with easily visible signage, being handicapped-accessible. The location of your business should be somewhere that can be easily reached from all roads. Ideally, your location should:

Be close to medical facilities
Have a building with a front display window
Have colorful building signage which describes your medical uniform business

Launch your website

Websites are a must-have in this business. Consumers have so many options available to them, they are always comparing prices and checking the reviews. Just think of the last time you made an online purchase, did you cross-check the price? Did you check the reviews? So it is non-negotiable as to whether or not you need a website. Now, whether you will use your website solely as an e-commerce site for your business or as a convenience to a mobile scrubs business, there are a few things you need, including but not limited to:

An easy-to-search domain name
A responsive website
Excellent SEO (meta tags, keywords, analytics, speed)
Detailed product descriptions, features, and benefits
Easy navigation
Optimized images
An easy checkout process
A clear returns and shipping policy
Customer reviews

Step 5: Purchase the products

Unless you are creating your own scrubs line, then you will need to purchase inventory. So, the best way to go about this step is to research the brands you are interested in selling based on your market research in your area.

This most likely will lead you to specific wholesalers and/or manufacturers. A good wholesaler is a link between the manufacturer and the retailer (you), while the retailer is the link between the manufacturer and the customer. Now, a good wholesaler will usually give good discounts for buying in bulk, which will allow you a greater profit margin. Anything greater than 25-30% is ideal for a profit margin.

However, the better option is to contact the manufacturer directly. Please know that not all manufacturers sell their scrubs in every location in America, so be sure to check with them individually. Many of them will have an application process and different requirements, such as a minimum opening order.

Additionally, some will only sell to you if you have a physical brick and mortar store. Most of them do not agree with solely online scrub stores. The best way to find out is to call them directly. As a business owner, you have to reach out to these companies yourself in order to earn their respect. For additional help, you can check out my 10 Strategies for Buying Scrubs.

Step 6: Market your Business

For good marketing, it is necessary to recognize your target audience or demographic. In this case, we know that it is medical professionals. We have already established that these consumers are very busy, with some working off shifts and long hours. As a result, marketing to them must be adjusted in a way that they are made aware of your business both locally and online, and it must be done in a quick and efficient manner.
In today’s digital age, social media marketing is necessary. Having a strong internet presence is necessary to make an impact with consumers. An example would be to hire people to model your uniforms in promotional videos. Boost or run ads on these videos on popular social media sites like Instagram or Facebook. Even if you have a brick and mortar store, your website should be compelling and display content that introduces your business to the world.
Step 7: Start selling

Before you are ready to launch, make sure you are set-up to accept payment in a variety of ways; we are in the era of CASHAPP where people are fueled by convenience and speed! Whether you are selling your merchandise in person, online, or through social media, it is a good idea to accept all types of payment. You have to be able to accept cash, purchase orders, credit, debit, PayPal, etc. if you want the sale these days.

If you are not willing to accommodate people, then you will likely miss out on the money. Starting out as a new business, you do not want to turn any customers away, so be prepared for these types of payments or at the very minimum make people aware of what you will accept when you advertise. Do you already have a scrubs business but need help with sales? Check out this free resource: 5-Ways to Make Money in Your Scrubs Business This Week.

So there you have it, the initial 7 steps to starting your scrubs business. Of course, there are many more steps in the process. It is important to note that although worthwhile, this is a serious business, not a side hustle. There is a lot of time that will need to be invested in it. It is not as straightforward as simply buying inventory, that does not make a “business”.

Buying a case of scrubs with no additional research or training will leave you discouraged and unmotivated. So before you start a scrubs business, please do the necessary research and get help from experts to diminish your learning curve. I have successfully helped several nurses start and launch their scrubs business, with the hope of helping others too. So if you need additional support or VIP coaching please email Tina Payne at Tina@goalsofaceomom.com for an application or you may check out my available programs at www.goalsofaceomom.com/programs.

Click Here to be added to the waiting list for my group coaching program:

Tina M. Payne, RN, MSN

Owner of Grace Health Scrubs

Business Mentor/Blogger

Let’s Connect on Social Media

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How a NP can start a Housecall practice

aprn, Boss, business owner, Nurse Boss, Nurse Business Owner, nurse entrepreneuer, nurse practitioner

by Dr. Scharmaine Lawson, FNP, FAANP, FAAN

Medical house call practices by nurse practitioners are beginning to gain a lot of attention, as more nurse practitioners are making house calls to provide medical aid to patients who cannot visit a health facility. A Housecall practice by nurse practitioners enables advanced practice nurses to build a private practice with less overhead, and ultimately, earn more revenue. It also offers some flexibility in work schedule, as well as some degree of freedom. If you are a advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), you too can start a house call practice today.

Key Steps for Starting a House Call Practice

Starting a house call practice can be a tumultuous process for many nurse practitioners, as most are confused about where and how to start. However, like many small businesses, a nursing house call practice also requires certain steps and processes you have to take to make it a success. To help you build a successful house call practice, highlighted below are some crucial things you need to do.

· Get Your Credentials

The first thing you need to do before setting up your practice is go through the credentialing process. This is required, especially, if you will be accepting payments from patients with government or private insurance. You will be asked by insurers about your medical background, as well as all the necessary licenses and permits. The entire process can take several months, so you might want to start early, to get it over and done with, as soon as possible.

· Get Licensed

Next, you need to follow some important regulations set up by your state and the federal government. You will need to get licensed by the APRN licensing department in your state. Depending on the state where you hope to have your practice set up, you might want to visit the Board of Nursing for your state to get the requirements. There may be other requirements you might have to provide, including DEA registration if you will be administering medication to your patients. You might also need to provide a national provider identifier number (NPI). If you do not have one, you can apply on the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System website.

· Establish a Legal Structure

Your house call practice will also need a legal business structure, which will help determine how you will be paying your taxes, as well as the extent to which you will be liable for losses, debts, and lawsuits. Thus, you might want to hire an attorney that will help you make the right legal decisions. Your attorney will oversee the entire legal aspect of your practice, by drafting legal documents like articles of incorporation/organization, partnership agreements, etc.

· Fund Your Practice

You may also require a small business loan or some other form of capital, to fund your house call practice. You will need to consider the cost of equipment, an accountant, attorney and other costs. Other expenses to add to your start-up cost, include the cost of medical records software, computers, medical supplies like gloves, bandages, syringes, etc. To get funding for your practice, you will need to find the right lender for you, as well as make sure that you have all the requirements they need.

These are just some key steps you need to take when planning to start a house call practice. for more in-depth information on how to start a house call practice as a nurse practitioner, You should Order Housecalls 101. And, if you would like to learn, first hand, the essential skills, and tools needed to run a successful house call practice, Book the House Call Course by Dr. Lawson today!

IG: @Dr_LawsonNP

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DrScharmaineBakerNP/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlawsonnp/

Nursing Leadership: Difference between a leader and a boss

aprn, Boss, business owner, entrepreneuer, Nurse Boss, Nurse Business Owner, nurse entrepreneuer, nurse practitioner, Nursing Leadership

The power of Nursing Leadership: Difference between a leader and a boss The buzz word these days seems to be “I am a BOSS” as well as other catchy phrases as it relates to being in charge, autonomous, independent and the like thereof. I wanted to delve a bit deeper into the word Boss and how it does not make you a leader. As I was researching the word boss and leader, I came across these definitions from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Boss- a person who exercises control or authority union bosses a mafia boss; specifically: one who directs or supervises workers. Leader- a person who leads: such as a guide and/or conductor. A person who directs a military force or unit leaders of the army. A person who has commanding authority or influence.

What stood out as a difference were the words influence, lead, guide to describe leader while a boss used words like control, authority, direct and supervise. I have 22 years of leadership experience of being a leader in the Army. The Army has afforded me the opportunity as a very junior Soldier to be placed in leadership positions above my grade level. Years later becoming a nurse, I’ve gained experience to be a nursing leader through developing both my bedside and administrative skills. I have been stationed in remote areas of the world where I was the only public health nurse and had the privilege to serve as the Garrison health consultant and be instrumental as a site surveyor in the grand opening of the child development center in Daegu, Korea. The military has taught me about peer leadership and how to successfully earn respect based on character and not just position. The military has helped me to strive to be a compassionate, hardworking and strong nurse whether it’s in the Medical surgical department, pediatric unit or disaster preparedness for family and servicemembers who staged in South Korea from the Japan Tsunami of 2011. Leadership is not defined by title, rank, degree or stature. It is born and bred and exists within. It is a desire. It is advocating and taking care of others. It’s acknowledging weakness as well as strength. It is the empowered, empowering others to be leaders. I’ve been fortunate to attend leadership courses that helped hone and define my leadership skills. Leadership has taught me that one should never compromise their moral compass to get to the top but should always carry themselves with honesty and integrity. The late Dwight.D.Eisenhower, 34th President of United States, once said, “The supreme quality of leadership is unquestionably integrity.

When discussing Nursing Leadership, it is safe to say that it is the driving force in advocating and delivering the quality of care and the patient care outcome that is essential in today’s complex healthcare system. It is my belief that from the moment you become a nurse, you become a leader. From the bedside, to the administrative role, you are a leader. As nurses, we have to take on the role of a leader, be that change agent who will leave a legacy that influences not only our healthcare system, but the next generation of nurses. The profession of nursing must find a way to afford opportunities to the most exceptional individuals, even if their journey of success was not like their own. This is an act of selfless service, to be able to embrace the entire young professional nurse in an effort to produce the greatest outcome.

I want to share with you six leadership nuggets that have guided my everyday actions and have influenced my approach to nursing:

1. Always display integrity and allow no one, no organization to get in the way of that.

2. Loyalty to yourself, your organization, colleagues and those entrusted in your care.

3. Compassion- Its ok to be firm, fair and assertive but do not lose sight of extending compassion.

4. Professionalism- Nursing is a profession, act accordingly.

5. Always put yourself in position to learn new things-Continued education is key to future success.

6. Never forget your Why.

Dr. Estacy Porter is a wife, mother of 4 kids and a retired Army Nurse Captain of over 22 years with her last job as Chief of Preventive Medicine Department. She is a Board Certified Advance Public Health Nurse and licensed Nurse Practitioner in Community Health. Dr. Porter is the founder and CEO of Jewel in His Eyes, a Holistic Health Empowerment program for girls and women to live and be the healthiest version of themselves as well as founder of Garifuna Nurses United, is a membership-based organization with a mission to gather Garifuna Nurses from across the diaspora together to foster a positive environment of growth, professional development and address health disparities amongst the Garifuna people. Her Doctoral Project focused on developing an executive level leadership and mentorship toolkit for Army Public Health Nurses.

@estacyport

Sleep disturbances in children

Home health aprn, business owner, children sleep disorders, DNP, doctor of nursing practice, entrepreneuer, Nurse, nurse entrepreneuer, Nurse Practitioner

by Dr. Sonia Smith, NP

Sleep disturbance is one of the most common concerns of childhood. Estimates are that approximately 20-30% of all children have problems related to sleep. Sleep disorders in children are varied. Children may present with insufficient sleep due to difficulty with either initiating sleep or maintaining sleep. Sleep disturbance may be associated with pediatric insomnia, disorders of circadian rhythm, or may manifest as hypersomnolence or narcolepsy with or without cataplexy. Problems with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) may include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea, and hypoventilation disorders. Common parasomnias in childhood may include night terrors, nightmares, sleep talking, somnambulism, bruxism, and frequent limb movements.

Sleep is necessary for maintenance of both physical and psychological health. Sleep deprivation has known detrimental effects on both somatic and neuropsychiatric health issues. Children with lack of sleep have been shown to be susceptible to development of obesity as well as predisposed toward higher body mass indexes later in life. Consequences of SDB related to OSA may include development of cor pulmonale and growth retardation. Sleep loss can also contribute to changes in human immune responses.

The neurocognitive effects of poor sleep are well documented in the literature. Domains affected by inadequate sleep include effects on cognitive and academic functioning as well as emotional and behavioral operations. Children with sleep disturbance may manifest behaviors consistent with hyperactivity and aggression as well as emotional lability, depression, and anxiety. These negative behaviors are associated with an increased risk for youth injury. Children who experience sleep difficulties between the ages of 5-19 have also been shown to have problems with depression, anxiety, and other emotional concerns later in life.

Sleep loss has been directly associated with decreased academic performance due to an inability to remain alert and subsequent difficulty concentrating in school Executive functioning skills including the ability to generate hypotheses, reason abstractly, and process information are also adversely affected when children do not achieve adequate sleep. Children who do attain restful, restorative sleep have been shown to have higher levels of optimism and self-esteem than children with disturbed sleep.

Emerald Coast Pediatric Sleep Consultants, LLC

Emerald Coast Pediatric Sleep Consultants is a nurse practitioner-owed sleep clinic located in beautiful Gulf Breeze, Florida. Emerald Coast Sleep provides comprehensive sleep diagnostic and treatment services to children from birth to age 21 years. A collaborative approach to patient care, with emphasis on addressing biopsychosocial and cultural patient factors, is utilized to determine individualized plans of care. A paradigm of health and wellness is the foundation for treatment. The staff also has extensive experience caring for children with special needs. Emerald Coast Pediatric Sleep Consultants is dedicated to bring awareness of sleep disorders and the need for pediatric sleep assessment to pediatric health providers in the community and nationwide. Visit us at www.emeraldcoastsleep.com for more information.

Sonia A. Smith MN, CPNP/CNS obtained her BSN from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her MN in Child Health Nursing from Emory University in Atlanta. She has been a pediatric nurse for 29 years and has been a pediatric nurse practitioner for 24 years. Sonia has experience in primary care, pulmonology, and neurology. She is currently the owner of Emerald Coast Pediatric Sleep Consultants located in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Her sleep practice specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in children with an emphasis on health and wellness. Sonia enjoys living in the country on a 40 acre pecan orchard in Foley, Alabama, located 20 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. She is one year away from obtaining her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Troy University. In her spare time she enjoys travel, good wine, good friends, and making fused glass art.

Bleeding While Homeless

Advanced Practice Nurse, entrepreneuer, Nurse Business Owner, nurse entrepreneuer, nurse practitioner, Uncategorized African-American, Business, Business owners, Healthcare, Homeless, NP

charlene

by Charlene Rainey-Bell, FNP-C

Imagine, it’s that “time of the month” and your homeless! For a homeless woman of menstruating age, menses brings a week of struggling, not only to find a way to handle the physical and emotional symptoms, but to also contain the flow of blood, as tampons and pads are expensive and for most homeless women, completely out of reach. Many times, this means relying on fashioning makeshift “pads” of sorts, made from toilet paper or paper towels scrounged from public restrooms and even resorting at times to socks, rags or brown paper bags.

When you are homeless, there is no comfort to be had from a warm shower, no retreat into your private bedroom where you can relax with a heating pad and certainly no visit to your personal physician to get a prescription for pain relieving medication if needed. Then there’s the issue of simple cleanliness to think about, as there is also no relief from the constant threat of disease associated with the repeated use of unsanitary materials, such as yeast infections, urinary tract infections, vulvar dermatitis or worse death, not to mention an unpleasant odor, which can occur when the genital area is not cleaned daily.

Forget for a moment the comfort a warm bath would bring and just focus on how you would feel if you had your menses and couldn’t bathe, except maybe to hurriedly wipe yourself with a wad of cold wet paper towels in the stall of a public restroom. For a homeless woman and for the approximately 169,000 homeless women like her who are living on the streets on any given night in the United States, this miserable scenario is relentlessly repeated each and every month, twelve times throughout the year.

A box of tampons costs about five to seven dollars and for the woman who is homeless, the choice is all too often between buying them and having something to eat. To make matters worse, in forty states, menstrual supplies such as pads and tampons are classified as non-essential “luxury” items, further adding to their cost, while Viagra, a medication that treats erectile dysfunction, is taxed in only one state! Plus, even if a woman has access to food stamps (SNAP), feminine hygiene products cannot be purchased with this money.

That’s why in 2017, I started Her Padded Truth, a nonprofit organization geared toward providing women who are homeless, in transition, and living in impoverished conditions with menstrual hygiene products. We are geared to ending menstrual shaming and educating communities and government on the unfair “pink tax” that women are subjected to in many states. We are a grassroots movement making a huge impact in the state of Virginia. Since starting we have donated over 10,000 menstrual hygiene products to women across the Hampton Roads area and abroad. The goal is to bring awareness and remove the shame of the stain.

Charlene Rainey-Bell, FNP-C

The Vaginal Health Enthusiast

www.herpaddedtruth2.org

email: herpaddedtruth@gmail.com

For more information on Her Padded Truth and to donate to this movement follow us on all our social media platforms:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/herpaddedtruth

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HerPaddedTruth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herpaddedtruth/

This nurse practitioner started a CNA school

Uncategorized aprn, Boss, business owner, CNA, entrepreneuer, MSN, NP, Nurse, Nurse Boss, nurse entrepreneuer, Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Leadership

Victoria Randle NP discusses her journey to owning a CNA school. — Victoria Randle NP

by Victoria Randle, NP

Deciding to become an entrepreneur can be a scary task to tackle, especially if you lack a mentor or support. You ask your self “ Where do I start? Which way do I go? Who can I trust?” It can all seem so overwhelming that you may give up before you even get started. However, with determination, perseverance, and a strong support team, it can be done! Remember, no one determines your fate but you!

In my practice as an RN, I saw a decline in the quality of CNA’s. I felt this stemmed from multiple issues. One big issue was a lack of nurse support for CNA’s thus causing a lack of pride in their work. I also noticed that many schools seemed so fly by night, “Become a CNA in 10 days!” Are these students really getting the exposure and sense of pride that they need for the job? That’s when I decided someone has to take action and that someone would be me!

I had no idea where to start and figured lots of things out along the way. I must say I did some major head bumping along the way. I met people who were very helpful, people who donated time and money in my vision and then there where those who of course just wanted my money and gave me only half of what I needed. Unfortunately we can’t always see those people coming. Nevertheless it took me two years to get my CNA program up and running. I would like to share with you the steps to get moving in the right path. I happen to be in the state of Georgia so much of this will be Georgia based, however other states are very similar.

Identify your authorizing body for the CNA program in your state. Each state is different. The CNA program may be governed by the Health Department, the State Board of Nursing, or a separate branch that is specific to nurse aids only. In the state of Georgia the certifying body is the later mentioned. The nurse aid-training program certifying body is the Georgia Medical Care Foundation (GMCF). Please click here for more info GMCF Nurse Aid info. In the state of Georgia you must attend a FREE two day workshop offered by the state called “ Train the Trainer” in order to become a CNA instructor and/or start a CNA school. Dates for this workshop can also be found at the link above. Please note this workshop fills up FAST and is offered once a month so have the site booked marked and check it religiously every day to catch an open spot. I would also like to note you do not have to be a nurse to own a CNA school, however you must have a nurse (RN) be on staff to coordinate the program.

In many states you are responsible for writing your own curriculum and submitting it for approval. This affords you the ability to expound upon certain aspects you may feel are important to teach and can help you create a unique set of CNA graduates that facilities will seek out. The state of Georgia requires that your curriculum be at least 85 hours of instruction, lab and facility time. You can choose more hours if you wish. Choosing a book and writing a curriculum is VERY time consuming. It took me a year to write my own. Many states are open to which book you can use but be sure to check with your state to ensure you choose an approved book. In Georgia they discuss how to write your curriculum and which books are approved at the Train the Trainer workshop. If you still feel stuck or overwhelmed, feel free to consults someone like myself who has been there and done that. I will be happy to provide a consult to help you with your curriculum. Just email me at thesecretcocktail@gmail.com

Find a nursing home that is willing to contract with you. It is a state requirement that you have a contractual agreement with a facility to bring your students to so that they may gain hands on learning. Depending on where you live and the number of schools in your area, this process can take a while. Many facilities already have contractual agreements with other CNA schools or nursing schools and may be at capacity. Also some facilities insurance do not allow them to have students in their facility. Make a list of nursing homes far and near, find out who the DON is and make contact with them. Sell your vision and school to them. Why should they let your students practice there? Will you offer their employees a discount to attend your school? Can you promise them future staff members out of your graduates? Can the two of you partner to help fill their CNA shortage?

Submitting your curriculum and waiting for approval can take up to three months in Georgia. If you are lacking any documents or something needs to be corrected in your first submission, you have two additional chances to re-submit in a one-year period. If your curriculum fails all three times, you must try again in a year so you must be diligent! In the event your curriculum passes (which it will because you will be diligent) you are contacted for a site visit by the state and the site visit can occur up to 3 months after the curriculum has been approved. It is imperative you have a site identified and all required items ready at the site for inspection. An equipment list can also be found at the link above. For more info on curriculum help join my email list HERE. I give out free tips to help you along the way.

WHAT SOMEONE NEVER TOLD ME!! There are additional items that need to be submitted with your curriculum. In the state of Georgia, there are a multitude of forms you have to craft such as: Clinical sign in sheet, Class sign in sheet, instructor evaluation form, student evaluation form etc. If these are missing, you must resubmit, even though it is not part of the curriculum. Also the entire curriculum and all these forms MUST be printed out and hand delivered to GMCF for approval. All additional documents must be resubmitted the same way so have plenty of paper and ink handy because you will become a self made Kinkos! If you would like more tips on the SECRETS behind starting your own CNA school, visit my YouTube channel The Secret Cocktail. There you will find videos to answer your questions and give you insight on topics of interest.
Once your curriculum has been approved and you pass the dreaded site visit, they will let you know right then and there if you are approved to start, however you cannot open the doors of the facility until you received an actual letter in the mail. Being completely approved is the best felling in the world!!!

Personal words of advice: PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Have a business plan written. Ensure you have a solid marketing plan and be sure to have a strong partner (this was my failure). There is no way you can do this on your own. You need someone who is just as vested as yourself in the endeavor. Of course you will need an instructor to help teach and secretary to secure those students when they call, but you certainly need someone to help you in the background. Ordering supplies, marketing, accounting, building community partnerships, preparing for annual state inspections, cleaning the building, I mean the list goes on!!! I promise you, you cannot do it all alone. Both of you must understand this is not an instant cash business and you will initially be working for free just as you would with any other entrepreneur endeavor. However, with determination and perseverance you will strive for success and you will succeed!

I am excited for your venture and hope this article was helpful. This is just an over view as there are many other in-depth items and situations to ponder that may come up. Never get discouraged and remember the goal in mind. You can do this! Please feel free to ask any questions below in the comments section or email me if you are more specific questions I can address. If you feel you are ready to move forward with starting your own CNA school, register for my next seminar HERE.

—
Victoria Randle NP-

Chief Executive Director

New Beginnings Career Center Inc.

We are a proud 501c3
678-310-6168 Office

www.nbccisnumber1.org

www.facebook.com/nbccisnumber1

www.instagram.com/newbeginningscareercenter/

This nurse practitioner started a CNA school after realizing that these valuable team members needed a more comprehensive program of study.

Advanced Practice Nurse, nurse practitioner, Uncategorized Business, Business owners, CNA, Entrepreneuers, Healthcare, NP, Nurse, Nurse Business owners, Nurse Entrepreneuers, Nurse Practitioners

by Victoria Randle NP-C

Deciding to become an entrepreneur can be a scary task to tackle, especially if you lack a mentor or support. You ask your self “ Where do I start? Which way do I go? Who can I trust?” It can all seem so overwhelming that you may give up before you even get started. However, with determination, perseverance, and a strong support team, it can be done! Remember, no one determines your fate but you!

In my practice as an RN, I saw a decline in the quality of CNA’s. I felt this stemmed from multiple issues. One big issue was a lack of nurse support for CNA’s thus causing a lack of pride in their work. I also noticed that many schools seemed so fly by night, “Become a CNA in 10 days!” Are these students really getting the exposure and sense of pride that they need for the job? That’s when I decided someone has to take action and that someone would be me!

I had no idea where to start and figured lots of things out along the way. I must say I did some major head bumping along the way. I met people who were very helpful, people who donated time and money in my vision and then there where those who of course just wanted my money and gave me only half of what I needed. Unfortunately we can’t always see those people coming. Nevertheless it took me two years to get my CNA program up and running. I would like to share with you the steps to get moving in the right path. I happen to be in the state of Georgia so much of this will be Georgia based, however other states are very similar.

Identify your authorizing body for the CNA program in your state. Each state is different. The CNA program may be governed by the Health Department, the State Board of Nursing, or a separate branch that is specific to nurse aids only. In the state of Georgia the certifying body is the later mentioned. The nurse aid-training program certifying body is the Georgia Medical Care Foundation (GMCF). Please click here for more info GMCF Nurse Aid info. In the state of Georgia you must attend a FREE two day workshop offered by the state called “ Train the Trainer” in order to become a CNA instructor and/or start a CNA school. Dates for this workshop can also be found at the link above. Please note this workshop fills up FAST and is offered once a month so have the site booked marked and check it religiously every day to catch an open spot. I would also like to note you do not have to be a nurse to own a CNA school, however you must have a nurse (RN) be on staff to coordinate the program.

In many states you are responsible for writing your own curriculum and submitting it for approval. This affords you the ability to expound upon certain aspects you may feel are important to teach and can help you create a unique set of CNA graduates that facilities will seek out. The state of Georgia requires that your curriculum be at least 85 hours of instruction, lab and facility time. You can choose more hours if you wish. Choosing a book and writing a curriculum is VERY time consuming. It took me a year to write my own. Many states are open to which book you can use but be sure to check with your state to ensure you choose an approved book. In Georgia they discuss how to write your curriculum and which books are approved at the Train the Trainer workshop. If you still feel stuck or overwhelmed, feel free to consults someone like myself who has been there and done that. I will be happy to provide a consult to help you with your curriculum. Just email me at thesecretcocktail@gmail.com

Find a nursing home that is willing to contract with you. It is a state requirement that you have a contractual agreement with a facility to bring your students to so that they may gain hands on learning. Depending on where you live and the number of schools in your area, this process can take a while. Many facilities already have contractual agreements with other CNA schools or nursing schools and may be at capacity. Also some facilities insurance do not allow them to have students in their facility. Make a list of nursing homes far and near, find out who the DON is and make contact with them. Sell your vision and school to them. Why should they let your students practice there? Will you offer their employees a discount to attend your school? Can you promise them future staff members out of your graduates? Can the two of you partner to help fill their CNA shortage?

Submitting your curriculum and waiting for approval can take up to three months in Georgia. If you are lacking any documents or something needs to be corrected in your first submission, you have two additional chances to re-submit in a one-year period. If your curriculum fails all three times, you must try again in a year so you must be diligent! In the event your curriculum passes (which it will because you will be diligent) you are contacted for a site visit by the state and the site visit can occur up to 3 months after the curriculum has been approved. It is imperative you have a site identified and all required items ready at the site for inspection. An equipment list can also be found at the link above. For more info on curriculum help join my email list HERE. I give out free tips to help you along the way.

WHAT SOMEONE NEVER TOLD ME!! There are additional items that need to be submitted with your curriculum. In the state of Georgia, there are a multitude of forms you have to craft such as: Clinical sign in sheet, Class sign in sheet, instructor evaluation form, student evaluation form etc. If these are missing, you must resubmit, even though it is not part of the curriculum. Also the entire curriculum and all these forms MUST be printed out and hand delivered to GMCF for approval. All additional documents must be resubmitted the same way so have plenty of paper and ink handy because you will become a self made Kinkos! If you would like more tips on the SECRETS behind starting your own CNA school, visit my YouTube channel The Secret Cocktail. There you will find videos to answer your questions and give you insight on topics of interest.

Once your curriculum has been approved and you pass the dreaded site visit, they will let you know right then and there if you are approved to start, however you cannot open the doors of the facility until you received an actual letter in the mail. Being completely approved is the best felling in the world!!!

PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Have a business plan written. Ensure you have a solid marketing plan and be sure to have a strong partner (this was my failure). There is no way you can do this on your own. You need someone who is just as vested as yourself in the endeavor. Of course you will need an instructor to help teach and secretary to secure those students when they call, but you certainly need someone to help you in the background. Ordering supplies, marketing, accounting, building community partnerships, preparing for annual state inspections, cleaning the building, I mean the list goes on!!! I promise you, you cannot do it all alone. Both of you must understand this is not an instant cash business and you will initially be working for free just as you would with any other entrepreneur endeavor. However, with determination and perseverance you will strive for success and you will succeed!

Victoria Randle NP-C

Executive Director

New Beginnings Career Center Inc.

We are a proud 501c3

678-310-6168 Office

www.nbccisnumber1.org

www.facebook.com/nbccisnumber1

www.instagram.com/newbeginningscareercenter/