Here's how you can foster innovation and creativity to excel in healthcare entrepreneurship as a nurse.

Foster innovation and creativity in healthcare entrepreneurship by staying updated on industry trends, embracing new technologies, and identifying gaps in patient care. Encourage collaboration and brainstorming, leverage your clinical experience to develop solutions, and continually seek feedback to refine and improve your ideas.

Let me preface by saying: My businesses are not directly in the healthcare setting. As nurses, we are trained to adapt and think on our feet. But in the business world, this adaptability needs to extend to our willingness to learn new skills and explore unfamiliar territory. Embracing learning has been crucial for me. It’s about seeing every challenge as an opportunity to grow. When I started developing the Kindred Connect Business Platform for birthworkers, I had to learn everything about CRM systems, marketing strategies, and even some coding! And let me tell you, that journey wasn’t always smooth. But every step was worth it. So, stay curious, ask questions, and never stop learning.

Your network is your net worth, especially in healthcare entrepreneurship. As nurses, we often collaborate with various professionals, and this should extend to our business endeavors. I try my best to attend industry events, join professional groups, and connect with like-minded individuals especially on LinkedIn who can offer support, advice, and potential partnerships. Building a diverse network can open doors to new opportunities and provide the collaborative spirit needed to innovate and thrive in the healthcare industry.

At the heart of healthcare entrepreneurship lies the patient. When I started my product business, I wanted to improve the moods and overall interaction between healthcare workers patients/clients. There are gaps in the market that can be filled with products and services our patients need or can use. Our experience as nurses gives us a unique perspective on patient care, which is invaluable in creating patient-centered solutions. By keeping the patient experience front and center, we can innovate in ways that truly make a difference. Think about how your products or services can improve patient outcomes, enhance their experience, or make healthcare more accessible. Let your empathy and understanding drive your entrepreneurial journey.

Stepping into entrepreneurship involves taking calculated risks. As nurses, we are often tatught to cautious, and calculating, often prioritizing safety and evidence-based practice over innovation. However, in business, growth comes from stepping out of our comfort zones. Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith, whether it’s launching a new service, investing in technology, or pivoting your business model entirely. It’s about evaluating potential outcomes, learning from failures, and continuously moving forward with a plan and purposeful actions.

My favorite! Deciding to integrate AI into my business was a big risk, especially in a field traditionally centered on human touch. I started with simple automations and gradually incorporated advanced chatbots to support my clients. These tools have helped streamline communication, provide 24/7 support, and deliver personalized experiences, allowing birthworkers to focus more on their clients and less on administrative tasks. Embracing technology doesn’t mean losing the human touch; it’s about enhancing what we already do and providing even better service to those we care for.