Recently the state of Florida changed the scope of the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Under the new legislation that was recently enacted last month, nurse practitioners (NP) are now allowed to practice autonomously in primary care settings including family medicine, general pediatrics and general internal medicine (State Profile, 2020).

The recent legislation changes have made it clear that there is an opportunity for APRNs, as well as the increasing demand for primary care providers, to broaden their roles and practice beyond the limits of their licensure and skills. But, in order to be successful managing their own practice, an APRN must not only have their license, but also need to understand and comply with the regulations, financial requirements, as well as the operational and business aspects of starting a private clinical practice.

Creating a business plan that describes the proposed practice’s essence, evolution, and follows the market is essential for the APRN to convince potential investors that their clinical practice venture has a substantial market. Knowing the four P’s of marketing: product, price, place, and promotion, and using different marketing avenues such as media and technology can help APRNs better understand their patients and grow within their field.

The APRN should have both an entrepreneurial spirit and an innovative mind to create a business plan that will help patients who are in greatest need. APRNs have the right to be reimbursed for Medicaid if they understand how business planning works. APRNs should also know how to use economic and financial principles in order to develop and implement effective strategies for care delivery and plans to improve the quality of care. By doing so, APRNs can ensure all available resources and utilize them accordingly for each patient’s needs.