From Nurse to Startup Founder: 4 Steps to Change Career and Start Again

As a registered nurse, the decision to leave my role was difficult and at times, agonising. As nurses, we often feel a sense of guilt for prioritising our own happiness & wellbeing above the demands of our role and this was never more obvious than when the pandemic hit.

At Government request, healthcare professionals flocked to the NHS to do their bit, with no adequate PPE and no appropriate guidance. Night after night in the A&E department, we treated medical professionals alongside members of the public. The department had never been so quiet, yet so hectic - we were battling a disease we knew so little about, and we were all worried that we could be next.

So nearly two years in and I think it's pretty obvious that nurses need a break. The Thursday night 'claps for carers' seemed to unite the nation and whilst I was filled with an overwhelming sense of pride, it did not go far in hiding the sadness, anxiety and trauma that my colleagues & I were experiencing.

I knew that, as proud as I was to be a nurse, I wanted something different. The quintessentially British "stiff upper lip" attitude of nursing was breaking me. But if I was to leave, it would need to be for something that I was really passionate about. I loved my role in the Hospice - it was going to take a lot to replace it. After much soul searching, I landed on creating my own baby accessory brand - combining my hobby and passion with my desire to mange and run my own (tiny) empire.

There are many factors that keep people like me from following their dreams. We often tell ourselves, "I'm too old" or "I don't have enough money". You might not know where to start or how to make it happen - neither did I, and I'm still not sure that I do! But here are some tips to help you through the process of changing your career and starting again.

Why do you want to change career?

For me, it was for my own sense of happiness. For some, it's about money, and others have lost their passion for the work they're doing. Whatever your reasons, there's a lot that goes into making a major life decision like changing careers. If you need a little nudge in the right direction or just need a little more information about what would be best for you, then read on! 

Does it have to be a total career change?

Many people think they need to make a total career change in order to start their own business. But you don't have to completely change your career! You can be an entrepreneur and work as a nurse, by exploring some of the following avenues:

• Social media marketing
• Blogging
• Website development
• Ecommerce
• Coaching or consulting

Just because you work as a nurse doesn't mean that the only way for you to be an entrepreneur is by starting a nursing company such as an agency. There are many ways for entrepreneurs to make money without making a full switch from one industry to another.

What will you need to start up your new business?

The first step is to start figuring out what you want to do. What skills do you have that might be useful in any industry? What if you were thinking about retail, but don't think you have enough money for inventory?

Start by doing some research to figure out what your specific goals are. Having a goal will help you decide whether or not this is the right path for you. You should also consider how much money you'll need to get started before deciding on your goals.

Next, start making connections with people who can help you with your business. This could be anyone from old friends to new acquaintances. The more people who know about your business idea, the better chance of success it will have!

Once that's done, it's time to find a location and start looking for equipment and staff, but only if it's necessary! Nowadays, lots of businesses start as a 'one man band' from the kitchen table - don't get yourself into a mountain of debt whilst the new idea is just that - an idea!

The process of changing your career and starting again

Ending a career is no easy feat, it takes real guts & careful planning to move from one stage of life to the next. But changing your career doesn't have to be complicated.

If you're considering making a change, consider these steps first:

* Have an honest conversation with yourself about what you want out of life. What are your goals? What are your needs?

* Start making goals and writing them down on paper. You don't have to share these with anyone, but they may help you define what you want and where you want to go.

* Identify what resources are available in your community to help make this transition easier for you.

* Talk with friends and family about your decision-making process and see their reactions (good or bad). Take the time to listen to them - make all feedback welcome!

* Figure out what you need to be able to do to afford the change. For many nurses, the option of doing bank or agency work allows us to make money without having to commit to a full-time rota.

I hope this blog helps a little - well, if anyone reads it!  If you do, leave me a little comment below and let me know what you think!

Love, Maz x

Photo credit: Isaac Quesada, Jacqueline Munguía, Fabian Blank & Matt Seymour on Unsplash