I’ve loved business ever since I was a kid. Growing up I had a neighborhood friend whose dad sold Amway products. We used to play “business” where we’d pretend to be business owners with the packaged products, buying and selling them as if they were ours. A few years down the line, when I was in middle school, I opened up a lemonade stand and was subsequently featured in the local newspaper. 

If you’re a new NP entrepreneur, chances are you will encounter a few bumps while starting your business. This isn’t something to be fearful of, as challenges in business are all part of the journey. However, each setback does provide room for growth, and oftentimes you can turn something you perceive as a negative into a positive experience. Having started several businesses myself, I’ve written several articles about entrepreneurship and starting a business. In this article I’ll be sharing an additional three tips for those of you who are new to the business world.

Mentorship has always been, and continues to be, a large part of my success as a nurse practitioner.

Finding a mentor is an important aspect to your success as a nurse practitioner, especially as a new graduate. You’ve entered into a brand new career and it’s important to have a mentor in your corner guiding and cheering you on.

Do you remember what is was like to be a brand new nurse practitioner? You just graduated from NP school, passed your boards, and you finally accepted that long awaited job offer. I imagine that you were both thrilled and scared at the same time. Excited to no longer have to attend long lectures coupled with hours of studying. But also fearful about no longer having your preceptor to consult with, and now your patients were ultimately under your care.

Recently I've been getting a lot of emails about the job market. I hear you, you're frustrated trying to find a job that you'll enjoy, but not having much luck getting hired. If you haven't yet read last week's email, I encourage you to check it out as it offers many great tips on finding a job.

Recently I've seen numerous posts within NP groups and on social media about the "over saturation" of the NP market. Many people are having a hard time finding work, and some have been looking since they graduated almost a year ago! I'm sure this must be very discouraging, but for me, I haven't found getting hired to be an issue. If anything, I've found an abundance of NP positions available. So I'm sharing what I've learned from the market and have compiled several tips to help you if you're in search of a job.

Recently I've been having conversations with people who are interested in a career as a nurse practitioner. Whether the person I'm speaking with is an RN or MA colleague, or someone who is looking to "switch careers", I get super pumped when having these conversations as there is so much opportunity within this field. From providing clinical patient care, to starting your own business, to being an agent for change, there are endless opportunities for nurse practitioners.

Unfinished charts, prescription refill requests, abnormal labs, and a line of patients waiting to be seen. Sound familiar? Unfortunately this is the reality for thousands of NPs across the nation. The complexities of the healthcare system coupled with the challenges of direct patient care can sometimes be overwhelming.

If you think that you're being underpaid, chances are you probably are.