Where can a nurse with a patented invention go to get it manufactured and in use in hospitals?

Creative Mind

Dear Creative Mind,

How exciting that you have a patented invention! For starters, read "Frustration, Perspiration, and Innovation: Nurse-Inventors Create in the Name of Patient Care." Go to www.nurse.com and use the search feature to find it.

For information about having your invention manufactured, contact the United Inventors Association . I also would suggest that you hook up with a small business administration counselor in your area. Find them through www.sba.gov or a local community college.

Consider attending my upcoming How to Start Your Own Business or Consulting Practice seminar to learn how to market the product and run an effective business.

Donna

Dear Donna,

I will soon be completing a doctorate in pastoral health ministry. How can I market myself in this area?

Praying for a Niche

Dear Praying for a Niche,

Nurses are creating new roles for themselves as paid faith-based practitioners in many different areas. Some work in affiliation with hospital chaplaincy programs. However, some hospitals have their own parish or faith-based nursing program in conjunction with local religious communities. It is often part of their community nursing service. These positions are, of course, paid positions.

Since faith-based nursing is still a relatively new and growing concept, you may want to market yourself to hospital systems or any other setting you wish to work in. Prepare a fact sheet that highlights the research. Mention what a faith-based nurse would do (prepare a sample job description for them). And let them know how such a position/department would benefit their patients, positively impact patient satisfaction, offer opportunity for community outreach, and support the facility's bottom line. Speak in terms they can relate to; in other words, what's in it for them? Find out about similar programs and let them know about them, too.

Some faith-based nurses have successfully created their own positions and funded the program through grants, donations, and other avenues. Be sure to join and get active in your state nurses association as well as associations related to your specialty to access industry information, including funding sources.

You may have to work a little harder to find or create a position because you are a pioneer in the field. But move forward "in faith," and the right path will be illuminated for you.

Donna

Dear Donna,

Although I have always wanted to work in labor and delivery, I've been working in home care. Would a hospital hire me to work in L&D?

Longing for L&D

Dear Longing for L&D,

Every employer is different in terms of what they require for hire into a particular specialty. Your biggest challenge right now may be your lack of recent hospital experience (not a lack of med/surg experience). That is not an insurmountable obstacle, though. Some facilities have special L&D training programs that nurses can sign up for, sometimes for a fee. And although there is no guarantee of hire in that facility afterwards, it is certainly a step in the right direction. To find such programs in your area, contact the Association of Woman's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (www.awhonn.org).

You also should do some informational interviewing with members of AWHONN as well as any L&D nurses you know or come in contact with. Networking is a great way to find and get a good job, especially when you have obstacles to overcome. I even would suggest you attend local meetings of AWHONN as a guest. When there is something you want to do, it makes sense to rub elbows with those already successfully doing that thing.

In the meantime, contact some area hospitals and speak to nurse recruiters about L&D opportunities and/or training programs. Also find out what it would take for them to hire you. You also should attend career fairs so you can speak with multiple prospective employers.

Volunteer as a way to gain experience, make contacts, and get your foot in the door. Look for opportunities at Planned Parenthood facilities, birthing centers, inner city OB/GYN clinics, etc. When you can't get in the front door, try the back door.

Donna