We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shavon Parker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shavon below.
Hi Shavon, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
Am I happier as a business owner? Absolutely. Being in business has allowed me to step fully into my purpose—not just as a nurse, but as a true advocate and leader in healthcare. I started my journey as a bedside nurse, but the challenges of that environment pushed me toward entrepreneurship. Hospitals often operate in a way that prioritizes policies over patient care. As someone who is deeply passionate about advocating for my patients and clients, I found myself constantly at odds with the “get them in, get them out” system. It left little room for the kind of care I wanted to provide, and I knew there had to be another way.
That’s when I decided to create my own path. I opened businesses in healthcare that allowed me to serve my patients the way they deserve. For instance, my home care agency gives seniors the quality of life they need in the comfort of their own homes, with caregivers who truly care. It’s advocacy in action, and I get to shape that culture every single day.
Now, do I ever think about what it would be like to have a regular job again? Not really. The last time I reflected on that, it wasn’t because I missed bedside nursing—it was because I was reminded of why I left. One of the biggest blessings of being a business owner is that I’ve been able to help other nurses step into their own power. When I see nurses come into my IV hydration space, burnt out and doubting their love for the profession, I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Helping them see that there is life beyond the bedside—without the bullying, the burnout, or the politics—has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. I’ve created a space where nurses can rediscover their passion for nursing and thrive in ways they never thought possible. That’s when it hit me: God placed me in this position not just for myself, but to help others realize their potential too.
Being a business owner has allowed me to serve on a higher level—not just patients, but my peers. It’s about breaking free from limits, using the skills we’ve honed as nurses, and creating a life where we can truly thrive. Nursing doesn’t have to stop at the bedside, and I’m proof that the possibilities are endless. I’m happier, I’m thriving, and I’m blessed to be able to help others do the same.
Shavon, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Shavon Parker, but many know me as It’s Nurse Parker. I’ve been a nurse for over 13 years, and my journey into entrepreneurship is nothing short of a testimony to resilience, faith, and purpose. I started as an LPN and quickly realized that I wanted more—not just for myself, but for the patients and communities I served. I eventually went back to school to pursue my RN, thinking that becoming “everything” in my business was the only way to succeed. But that plan didn’t unfold the way I expected.
After completing the program as an A/B student, I couldn’t sit for my boards due to a contingency at the school. I felt defeated. That failure shook me, but it also birthed It’s Nurse Parker, the brand. I realized God was protecting me from a path that wasn’t meant for me and guiding me toward entrepreneurship. That moment redefined me—not just as a nurse but as a business owner and mentor. I learned that my calling wasn’t just about working in healthcare but about owning spaces where I could create impact and inspire others.
Today, I am the proud owner of multiple healthcare businesses, including CodeRed Healthcare Services, a home care agency that allows seniors to receive compassionate, quality care from the comfort of their homes, and Elite Infusion IV Hydration, my IV hydration business that prioritizes proactive wellness and empowers clients to take control of their health.
But beyond serving clients, my passion lies in helping nurses find their way beyond the bedside. Through my Concept to Creation classes and mentorship programs, I teach nurses how to leverage their skills to become successful business owners. Whether it’s opening a home care agency, starting an IV hydration lounge, or thriving as an independent contractor, I guide them step-by-step, showing them that the only limits are the ones they place on themselves.
My products and services are designed with both consumers and aspiring entrepreneurs in mind. From my Concept to Creation Drip eBook to my Beyond the Drip mentorship program, I’ve created resources to help nurses transition into business ownership with confidence. On the client side, my IV hydration services promote proactive health and wellness, offering customized solutions to help people look and feel their best. Meanwhile, my home care agency solves a critical need by allowing seniors to age in place with dignity and care tailored to their preferences.
What sets me apart? I don’t gatekeep. I believe in sharing knowledge, empowering others, and creating a ripple effect of success. Whether it’s my employees, clients, or students, everyone who crosses paths with me knows they’re stepping into an environment of growth, ambition, and empowerment. My philosophy is simple: If you’re around me, you’re going to thrive.
I’m most proud of the legacy I’m building—not just for myself but for the nurses I mentor, the clients I serve, and the communities I uplift. My work is about more than running businesses; it’s about advocating for others, creating opportunities, and inspiring people to realize that their potential is limitless.
At the heart of everything I do is my purpose to educate and hydrate—educating nurses and clients alike, ensuring they leave my spaces not only better served but better informed. My journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s mine, and I wouldn’t change a single part of it. My brand is about empowerment, advocacy, and impact, and I am just getting started.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One of the most defining moments of my life—and a true testament to my resilience—was the journey of failing nursing school. It’s a story I’ve told many times because it was during that period of brokenness that I discovered who Shavon truly is. Let me walk you through it.
As an LPN, I decided to go back to school to become an RN, thinking it was the next logical step for my career and my business. The journey was grueling. I was working overnight shifts, clocking out at 6 AM, and driving straight to nursing school. I’d brush my teeth and wash my face in the parking lot just to make it to class. Most days, I was so exhausted that I barely remembered driving there—it was muscle memory keeping me going. My breaks were spent napping in my car, and my friends would call to wake me up for the next lecture. This was my life for almost two years.
Despite the exhaustion, I passed every single class. I was an A/B student, constantly fighting through the mental and physical strain. I wasn’t a great test taker, so I relied on mnemonics and intense study routines to keep up. But I made it through the entire program. Then, right before clinicals, I had a physical exam and was diagnosed with stress-induced diabetes. My body was breaking down from the constant pressure. I was a single mother, barely spending time with my daughter, working nights, and giving every ounce of myself to school.
At the end of the program, we had to take an exit exam. It wasn’t to graduate—it was to gauge our likelihood of passing the NCLEX and protect the school’s ratings. I failed that exam by two points. I was devastated but determined. I studied hard and retook the test, only to find out the school had switched the test format entirely, from the ATI to the HESI. My study plan was thrown off, and I failed again.
The school required me to audit the program to retake the exit exam. That meant repeating classes I had already passed with B’s, and this time, I had to achieve an 80 instead of the standard 75. I pushed through, passing Med-Surg 1 again, but Med-Surg 2? I failed with a 79. Just one point shy. That one point meant I couldn’t retake the exit exam or sit for my boards. The only option was to redo the entire program from the beginning.
Imagine the heartbreak. I had walked across the stage at graduation, given a speech, and celebrated my accomplishment—only to be told I couldn’t take my boards. I had sacrificed everything for this goal—time with my daughter, my health, and countless sleepless nights—and it still wasn’t enough. That failure crushed me. For a moment, I wanted to give up entirely.
But in that moment of brokenness, something else was born. That experience birthed It’s Nurse Parker and ignited my journey into entrepreneurship. I realized that failure wasn’t the end. It was God’s way of redirecting me to my true purpose. I didn’t need to be an RN to succeed. I needed to take the skills, knowledge, and passion I already had and create something bigger than myself.
That resilience taught me that failure is only a lesson—a stepping stone to greatness. It showed me that adversity can shape you into someone stronger, someone who inspires others. Today, I run multiple businesses, mentor nurses, and provide opportunities for others to thrive beyond the bedside. That failure didn’t break me—it built me. It was the beginning of something greater than I ever imagined.
Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?
The biggest misconception about business ownership is that success eliminates problems. In reality, it’s the opposite—we face more problems than most because the responsibility to fix them starts and ends with us. I’ve had my share of close calls, moments when I wasn’t sure how I was going to make payroll, cover rent, or keep the business afloat. And let me tell you, those moments are gut-wrenching. But they’re also defining.
One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned as a business owner is that you have to stay in the thick of it, no matter how heavy it gets. I remember a time early in my business when I was running my home care agency. A major client’s payment was delayed, and payroll was due in less than a week. I had staff depending on me, bills piling up, and no backup plan. I panicked at first—who wouldn’t? But then I realized I couldn’t afford to fall apart because my employees were looking to me to lead.
So, I pivoted. I reached out to a small business lender I’d researched months prior and secured a short-term loan to cover payroll. That move kept my business running, but more importantly, it taught me how to think strategically and plan for the unexpected. I realized that being a business owner means you have to embrace pressure and use it to your advantage. That pressure taught me how to manage money, leverage resources, and make hard decisions quickly.
There were days when I didn’t eat so my employees could. There were weeks when every dollar of profit went back into the business just to keep the lights on. And while it wasn’t easy, it showed me the importance of knowing my “why.” You have to be so committed to your purpose that you’re willing to sacrifice, pivot, and problem-solve relentlessly.
Those experiences also opened my eyes to financial strategies that most people don’t talk about—like using other people’s money wisely. Whether it’s a loan, an investment, or a line of credit, leveraging outside funds can help you survive the tough times, but only if you have a solid plan to repay them. It’s all about being strategic and staying ahead of the game.
What those close calls taught me is that business is not linear. It’s a roller coaster, full of ups and downs. But those challenges sharpen you. They force you to think critically, plan better, and grow as a leader. I’m grateful for those moments because they molded me into the business owner I am today. And every time I think about those near-misses, I’m reminded that pressure truly does make diamonds.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.itsnurseparker.com
- Instagram: ItsNurseparker
- Facebook: ItsNurseparker
Image Credits
Roy Jetson for the images of my lounge space and picture in the green dress