When I think back to the early days of my nursing career, I never imagined I’d one day be running my own medical practice. Like many nurses, I started out focused on patient care—being present at the bedside, managing tough situations, advocating for patients when no one else would. What I didn’t realize then was that every one of those moments was preparing me for something bigger.

Nurses make outstanding entrepreneurs, and I say that from experience. The skills we develop in healthcare—adaptability, communication, critical thinking, time management, and most importantly, empathy—are the same skills that build successful businesses. The transition from bedside to boardroom isn’t as far as it may seem.

From the Floor to the Front Office

Nursing teaches you to lead under pressure. On the floor, we often make quick decisions with limited information and no room for error. We coordinate with teams, advocate for patient needs, handle crises with a cool head, and juggle competing priorities—all while staying calm and composed. That’s exactly what entrepreneurship requires.

When I started Holistic Medical Services, I quickly learned that running a business is basically another form of triage. You have to identify what needs attention now, what can wait, and what you can delegate. Nurses are naturally trained to think this way. We assess, plan, implement, and evaluate all day long—and we do it with people’s lives on the line.

That mindset translated well when I began managing the moving parts of a growing medical practice. Whether I was reviewing budgets, making hiring decisions, or figuring out how to expand services, I approached each challenge the same way I approached a busy hospital shift—one problem at a time, with the goal of improving the outcome.

Communication is Everything

Good entrepreneurs are good communicators, and nursing sharpens that skill like nothing else. Whether you’re educating a patient, coordinating with providers, or explaining a treatment plan to a worried family, nurses learn to speak clearly, listen well, and meet people where they are.

In business, communication is just as critical. Whether you’re working with your staff, negotiating with partners, or building relationships with clients, how you connect with people makes all the difference. In my practice, we talk about creating a culture of kindness and transparency—not just with patients, but within our entire team.

As a nurse, I was already trained to notice body language, tone of voice, and unspoken concerns. As a business owner, I use that intuition every day. It helps me build trust, resolve conflict, and foster a workplace environment where people feel respected and heard.

Empathy Builds Businesses

The heart of nursing is empathy—understanding people’s fears, pain, and hopes, and responding in a way that shows care. In business, empathy builds trust, and trust builds loyalty. That’s how you keep patients coming back, how you inspire your team, and how you grow your reputation in a meaningful way.

Too often, business is taught as cutthroat or purely transactional. But healthcare, and especially holistic healthcare, demands something different. My goal isn’t just to turn a profit. It’s to build something that makes people’s lives better. That starts with putting people first—patients, staff, and the community.

Nursing taught me that people remember how you made them feel, not just what you did for them. I carry that lesson into every business decision I make. It’s not about shortcuts or margins. It’s about long-term impact.

Problem-Solving with a Purpose

Every nurse I’ve ever worked with is a natural problem-solver. Whether it’s figuring out how to manage five high-acuity patients with two techs and a short-staffed shift, or staying calm when the computer system crashes during med pass, we learn how to stay focused, think critically, and find solutions.

As an entrepreneur, those skills are priceless. There’s no shortage of problems when you’re running your own business. From insurance denials and IT failures to regulatory hoops and staffing challenges, owning a practice is a constant exercise in troubleshooting. Nurses don’t panic when the unexpected happens—we pivot.

That ability to adapt, think on your feet, and stay solutions-oriented is what has allowed me to weather the ups and downs of business ownership. When things don’t go as planned—and trust me, they often don’t—I remind myself that just like in nursing, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about staying focused on the outcome and doing what’s best for the people you serve.

Leadership Through Service

At the core of nursing is service. We show up, day after day, to take care of people—often in their most vulnerable moments. That same service mindset is what makes nurses great leaders. Not bosses—leaders. People who lead by example, who lift others up, who make decisions with both head and heart.

When I started my practice, I didn’t want to just create another clinic. I wanted to build a place where people felt safe, heard, and truly cared for. That vision came from years of nursing. I knew what kind of environment made patients thrive, and I knew what kind of support my colleagues needed to deliver great care. So I built a practice based on those principles.

Now, as a nurse practitioner and medical director, I see my role as both clinical and cultural. I make business decisions, yes—but always through the lens of service. How will this affect our patients? How does it support our team? Does it reflect the values we believe in?

Nurses Belong in Business

If you’re a nurse reading this and thinking about making the leap into entrepreneurship, I want to tell you—go for it. You already have everything you need. The skills you’ve developed at the bedside are not only transferable, they’re powerful. You understand people. You solve problems. You adapt. You lead with compassion.

Whether you’re starting a clinic, launching a wellness brand, or building a consulting business, your nursing background is a strength—not something to leave behind, but something to build on.

For me, being a nurse was the foundation. Being a business owner is the next chapter. And I believe both roles can work together to change healthcare for the better.