I frequently receive emails from nurses indicating they are interested in being in their own business but they don't know where to start. They know that they do not want to do traditional nursing until they are in their 60s. They have an interest in being self employed or being a nurse entrepreneur but have no idea what they should do to make being an entrepreneur a reality.

The first critical step is to identify a business. Begin this process by asking yourself the following questions:

• What are the things you most enjoy doing?
• What is it that you enjoy doing that people will pay you to do?
• Where do the people gather who would be interested in purchasing this from you (you need to be able to find the people who need to find you).
• Is there a large enough group of these people interested in buying from you at the price you need to be able to support yourself? If not, could they at least provide part of your income?

These are a few of the first questions you need to be able to answer to determine if being a nurse entrepreneur will work for you.