If you’re a student of health care, be it a degree in physiotherapy or a family nurse practitioner, you may be considering setting up your own practice once you graduate. When starting up on your own, there’s a lot to think about.
You need to make sure you do things properly, not just for the growth of your business, but also to follow the legalities of being a practitioner. Making sure you have the right education is the first in a long list of requirements.
Degree.
If you’re thinking about starting your own practice, you’re probably already studying a degree related to healthcare. If not, have a look at your options. There are a lot of healthcare courses available. If you’re not sure which field you’d like to specialize in yet, that’s fine. Opt for a course that gives you a good introduction to healthcare, such as a healthcare science degree. Your undergraduate degree should give you a firm base knowledge of healthcare. Don’t worry if you decide you want to specialize; at this stage knowledge is often transferable and you won’t have to do a master’s degree in exactly the same subject matter.
Further Education.
For further education, consider online nurse practitioner programs. A course like this would advance your skills and knowledge and get you ready for real world healthcare. Training to be a nurse practitioner would give you the practical skills needed to start your own practice. Once you have completed a master’s course, you’ll need a PhD. Check with medical schools to find out what you’ll need to do to get on their course, as they all have different requirements.
Work Experience.
Work experience is possibly more important to your learning than formal education. You won’t be equipped to open your own practice without it. You need to know how to deal with different situations, and how a real-life practice actually works. You won’t learn any of this until you are out there living it. Many degrees, such as the FNP, will give you practical work experience along the way.
Business Management.
Remember a healthcare practice is a business. You won’t necessarily need a formal business qualification, but you’ll certainly need to do a lot of research. You need to know about tax and insurance, marketing, fees, design, staff management, HR systems, and payroll, as well as basic office management and record keeping. Consider taking a short course.
License and Credentials.
You’ll need a license to practice. This shouldn’t be a problem, but contact your local health board to find out what their requirements are. The application can sometimes take quite a long time, so be prepared to wait.
Gaining your education is only the start. Following your graduation from a relevant course, there will be a lot more you need to do before you can open a practice on your own. But don’t let that put you off. Starting your own company will give you an incredibly rewarding and exciting career for many years to come. It’s hard work, but it’s certainly worth it.
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