Nurse Mindsets that Hinder Transition to Self-Employment and/or Business Ownership

Transitioning from employment to self-employment or business ownership can be difficult. The path is filled with roadblocks—some of which are mindsets developed throughout the nurse’s education and practice. These mindsets can lead to delays and eventual rejection of the idea of working independently.

When I wrote the book, Self-Employed RN: How to Become a Self-Employed RN, I contacted many nurses who were self-employed and/or business owners. They all reported mindsets developed throughout their nursing careers that hindered or delayed their self-employment or business plans.

Here are three mindsets specific to nurses:

1. Instant response mindset
2. I can do it myself mindset
3. Desire for perfection mindset

 Instant Response Mindset

Nurses are used to quick response to medications or pharmacological magic, such as giving nitro and the pain disappears, giving a diuretic and the patient can breathe easily, or administering IV morphine and the pain subsides. In self-employment and/or business ownership, there is no pharmacological magic. In most cases, you must go slowly, be vigilant and flexible. One nurse once told me that business was like long-term care rather than acute care.

I Can Do It Myself Mindset

Nurses are often sharply criticized if their reports do not meet the approval of other team members, especially physicians. Consequently, nurses often try to research, gather all the information, and get their ducks in a row, so to speak, before asking for help from other team members. In business, asking for help from team members is encouraged early in the startup process.

Desire for Perfection

In nursing, a deviation from perfection can mean a patient’s life. Striving for perfection rules a nurses’ practice. In business, there is no such thing as perfection: no perfect name, no perfect logo, no perfect business entity, etc. Nurses may overlook opportunities while seeking perfection.

Being aware of these mindsets will avoid roadblocks and lead to a smoother transition from employment to self-employment and/or business ownership.