We were lucky to catch up with Rhonda Jones, Msn, Fnp-bc recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rhonda, appreciate you joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

I launched my mobile IV infusion company April 1, 2022 after coming across a similar business model while on vacation in Florida. I remember thinking that was a great niche in healthcare that my hometown probably did not have available. So when I returned home I began doing some research on local IV infusion companies. There are a few, but none that I could find that were strictly mobile. At this point, I was just toying with the idea because I was currently working a full schedule with an hour commute each way and raising a teenage son.

I was family nurse practitioner with 20 years of clinical experience, but had never owned my own company before. I had always worked for private practices or hospital-owned medical practices. I had always loved providing care to my patients. That’s the best part of my profession. So the tipping point for me to make the jump to go to self-employment was commuting fatigue and scheduling conflicts. Honestly, looking back, I was ready to take the leap, but needed that push to do it.

There was one key challenge to starting my new business……..I had NEVER started a business before! I was clueless on how/where to start. So I spent hours researching online. The internet was my best friend for several weeks. As a result, from my last day of employment in December to April of the next year (2022), I put everything in place that I needed to begin my business. This included licenses, insurances, policies and procedures, as well as accounts with suppliers. I was working with a tight budget of money I had saved up. I did not, and have not to this day, obtained loans for operating expenses. Once I had everything I felt I needed in place, I took a deep breath and performed my first IV infusion in April and have not regretted a single day. Now my company has expanded from iv Savannah to now iv SouthEast, which includes iv St Simons. My services now include aesthetics as well as a weight loss program. These services are offered in locations in Pooler, Wilmington Island, and Sandfly. Yet, mobile IV infusions are and will be the main focus of my business.

For me, the two most difficult parts of owning my small business are accounting and advertising/marketing. Prior, I knew how to balance my checkbook, but that was about it. As for advertising, I had my personal social media accounts, but creating posts for business, deciding on where to place advertising money, and everything that goes into getting my business known to the public was so different and complex. Just creating a logo was nerve-racking, knowing this will be my brand image forever! Fortunately, I knew experts in these areas and relied on them for help and guidance.

If I was to give advice to anyone considering starting their own practice, first, do not be in a rush. Do your research on what is required to start your business. For example: type of business license, general liability insurance and business structure (LLC? Sole Proprietor?). Second, try not to go into deep debt to get the business off the ground. Don’t make large purchases if you do not have too. Start small, and build the business over time. Third, be patient and plan to put many, many hours into running it. Owning your own small company is not 9-5, with weekends off. Yet on the flip side, the freedom you get by working for yourself is awesome.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Rhonda Jones, MSN, FNP-BC; a board-certified family nurse practitioner with 21 years of experience. Prior to getting my Masters in Nursing, I was a RN for approximately 20 years where I worked in labor and delivery, as well as a few years in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. In the early 2000’s I returned to college and completed my graduate degree in 2003. My years as a NP were in clinical practice; mainly in various medical offices specializing in women’s health. However, my first NP position was in internal medicine for approx 4-5 years. I thoroughly enjoy my interactions with my patients, and feel that being a NP is a true calling. You have to have terrific people skills and willingness to serve others with compassion.
Active listening is a must.

Along with the knowledge that comes from the education received, I feel having an intuitive understanding of a patient and their concerns, comes only with experience. It’s not just having the knowledge to diagnose their problems, it’s also having the ability to communicate and educate the patient. It’s the ability to gain the patient’s trust in you, so in turn they will know who they can reach out too and want to come back to see for their healthcare needs. You want to establish a relationship with your patients. This is what I enjoy about my career as a NP.

Have you ever had to pivot?

It was in the late 1980s and early 1990s that I became “burned out” from nursing. I thought I wanted to get out of nursing forever. I had always had an interest in the music business industry….not as a musician….I do not have a musical bone in my body. My interest was more on the lines of what it took to produce, sell and promote artists. So I moved to Atlanta, took a year course in the music business, and became an intern for Capitol Records. I worked as a nurse at a hospital while pursuing this new career. After several months working this internship, Capitol offered me a paid position at their Atlanta office. Those years were memorable, meeting artists such as Garth Brooks, Tina Turner, and Bon Jovi. I loved every minute of it, but I also became homesick and returned home. Shortly thereafter, I started the NP graduate program.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Dependability and professionalism are two things that are helping to build my company’s reputation. It’s been 2 1/2 years and we are growing our repeat customer base. Our social media ratings and feedback are high. In this market, word of mouth is extremely important, and we are constantly getting referrals from people who have used our services. I believe in being honest with my clients, as well as having informative communication with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ivSouthEast.com
• Instagram: @iv_southeast
• Facebook: IV Savannah

Image Credits

ivSouthEast