Nursing was not the original career choice for Stella Nsong, she saw herself as a journalist, or possibly in government public service like her father, who was the mayor of their town in Cameroon.
When she came to the United States from Africa over 30 years ago, her uncle prodded the young girl to pursue nursing school, rather than a full college education. Stella had her doubts at the time, because in her home country, nursing was pursued by those less capable of attending college and was not considered a viable profession.
Her uncle understood the need for qualified nurses in this country as well as the high regard we hold for those that tend to the needs of the sick. He prevailed in convincing young Stella to give it a go.
When Stella embarked on her nursing career, her office was the trunk of a Toyota Corolla and her elaborate filing system was comprised of three milk crates. One held the files of her current patients, one held her future plans for starting her own business and one contained self-improvement tapes that she listened to as she drove between appointments.
Stella believes that you are never to old to stop learning and motivating yourself to improve. Her big vision was to help fellow nurses, in the elder care industry, earn an income more commensurate to their abilities; one that would provide more independence and financial security. Her idea became the “100 Nurse Millionaires Challenge.”
Through her program, nurses benefit financially, but more importantly, our aging society benefits with qualified medical care from the companies founded by the nurses in her program. Her trained nurses assure the individual in need of elder care receives the attention and solutions they deserve. Plus, family members know that their loved one is receiving the finest care available. A huge side benefit is that these in-home care nurses also provide a needed respite from the 24-hour demands of caring for an aging loved one, for the family care-giver.
Stella’s program builds a triangle of care that includes all the facets of caring for an elderly family member. The first is that the older adult receives superior care, the second is about the family care-giver who can rest assured their loved one is receiving the best attention possible and the third factor is about maximizing the use of every program available, whether Medicaid, Medicare, or Long-term Care Insurance.
Stella foresees an eldercare problem in this country by the year 2030 which is when the youngest baby boomer will turn 85 years old. Today there are approximately 5.1 medical personnel and tax paying individuals available to support care for each older or disabled adult. By 2030, the elderly population will have grown and the medical personnel and employed tax paying caregivers to support the larger number will have decreased to 2.1. It is a proven fact that as our population ages, new facilities and methods of caring for an ever-increasing elderly population will place a tremendous burden on every family.
Stella understands this upcoming crisis which she identifies in her book “The Elder Care Cliff” and writes about in her syndicated column “The Elder Care Cliff Report”. Her 100 Nurse Millionaires Challenge provides a solution for the crisis by helping nurses create businesses that will provide work life balance for the family caregiver while allowing aging family members a daily opportunity to experience a sense of independence and dignified care where ever they call home regardless of their “life limiting diagnosis”. The focus is on life enhancing, cost conscious and stress relieving care with long term care planning to transform caregiving into a gratifying experience.
Several nurses are already enrolled in the “100 Millionaire Nurses Challenge” across the country and a few talked about why they became involved and what it has meant for their personal, as well as, professional growth. Listen to our podcast to hear their complete comments.
Roslynn Tharp owns Caregivers of The Commonwealth. She became an RN in 1984 but had grown tired of traditional bedside nursing in the current hospital setting. She said of Stella’s, “100 Nurse Millionaires Challenge,”
“Stella’s program has allowed me to create my own nursing business, while using the nursing skills I have learned. It also allows me to work closer to home, plus provide the needed nursing care to my area’s growing elderly population.”
Melody Warner, who now operates Caregivers of the Potomac, found working in the structured environment of a hospital too limiting. She was searching for a way to go into business for herself and found Stella’s program to be a perfect fit.
“Basically, everything that made me unsuccessful working in the structured hospital environment, has helped make me a successful business owner.”
Watch Melody’s video about her participation in the program.
“The 100 Nurse Millionaires Challenge” helped Katie Klem, who operates Comfort Makers in St. Helen’s, Oregon, overcome her introverted tendencies and find her true passion for caregiving.
“Working in my own business has become my passion; I never feel like I am working. Stella’s program pushed me outside my comfort zone and provided the training for my personal and professional growth.”
Ramona Reeves, from Bryn Mar Pennsylvania, was also searching for a way to branch out on her own and happened to meet Stella at a conference last year. She found her program, unlike other start your own business models, was less expensive to begin and provided the knowledge, training and information to not only get you started, but also help you stay in business.
“Stella’s program not only helps create financial freedom, but it also includes the training and assistance necessary to get my business up and running. I now operate two care-giving companies, Comforting Caregivers of Pennsylvania and Comfort Flex Infusion based in Bryn Mar, Pennsylvania. Even though I am working longer hours, I am more fulfilled and enjoying the process.”
Yolandra Drake is based in Houston, Texas, where she owns and operates, Yolah Caregiving Solutions. She found “The 100 Nurse Millionaires Challenge” via a Google search. She had wanted to build her own business for several years, but the right opportunity had never come along.
“I’ve worked as a nurse for many years at various levels of the nursing industry. In hospital case management, as a traveling nurse, as well as, the corporate side of nursing. I thought I knew a little bit about business. When I took Stella’s class, I realized that I didn’t have the business fundamentals necessary to be successful. Her program covers not only the operations side, but the importance of creating policy, procedures and marketing. I quickly found several business areas in which I was lacking. I found it extremely important to have someone help me put a plan together, as well as, the operating systems in place, and best of all, I didn’t have to do it alone.”
Casey Hughes who is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and operates as Nurse Casey LLC had this to say:
“Meeting Stella Nsong and joining the 100 Nurse Millionaire Program has been life changing. It has allowed me to become a successful entrepreneur through Stella’s invaluable coaching and guidance. It has allowed me to make my dream of caring for our community members in their homes a reality. I would not be where I am today without having Stella Nsong!”
Stella Nsong understands the importance of preparing qualified credentialed nursing professionals for the upcoming “Eldercare Cliff.” She recommends accreditation through the National Institute of Care Giving Credentialing and Accreditation for the nurses in her program.
Stella Nsong has effectively combined her nursing background and business acumen to create a program to meet the gigantic needs of an aging population and help nursing professionals build their own successful businesses along the way.
As Melody Warner added,
“Stella sees things in me that I don’t see myself. When I am struggling, she helps shift my thinking and get me back on track.”
Roslynn Tharp credits Stella’s program,
“Being a part of the 100 Nurse Millionaires Program has provided me with an opportunity to become a nurse entrepreneur.”
If you are currently in the medical profession and looking for a proven method to start your own care-giving business, visit Stella’s websites at: StellaNsong.com and at the Eldercare & Caregiving Network to request a free consultation.
