Taking the plunge
My Journey into Stomal Therapy: Taking the Plunge
Where It All Began
For years, I cared for countless patients with stomas, each with their own challenges and experiences. But one recurring comment from my patients stuck with me:
"You're the first nurse who has actually taught me something, rather than me having to teach the nurse. Are you coming back next time?"
Hearing this over and over bothered me deeply. It made me reflect on the gaps in care and education that patients were experiencing. Stomal therapy is an incredible, life-saving treatment, yet so many patients felt unsupported and unheard.
At the same time, my passion for this field continued to grow. I knew this was more than just a job—it was my calling. I wanted to provide meaningful care, educate, and empower patients without feeling the burnout that often comes with working in the public system.
And that’s when I made the decision to go out on my own.
The Challenges of Going Solo
Once I decided to take the plunge, I quickly realized how tricky it would be to navigate setting up my own practice. Private practice nursing is still a relatively new and evolving space in healthcare, with no clear-cut guidelines on how to establish a business the right way. I wanted to make sure that from day one, everything was set up correctly.
It wasn’t just the big things like structuring my business—it was also the small but crucial details. Ensuring my mandatory education was up to date, for example. Yes, I work for myself, but that doesn’t mean I’m exempt from maintaining accountability in my clinical practice. Keeping my immunizations current and documented wasn’t just about me; it was about protecting my patients and those around me.
Then came policies and procedures. Some might wonder, If I’m the only one in my business, why bother? But for me, it was never a question.
Accountability – Having policies in place keeps me responsible for my own practice.
Evidence-Based Practice – It ensures I continue delivering safe, high-quality, evidence-based care.
Legislative Compliance – It guarantees that I meet all legal requirements for care delivery.
Could I have skipped some of these steps? Probably. Would anyone know? Maybe not. But that’s not who I am. I have always taken pride in delivering comprehensive, high-quality care, and I wasn’t about to cut corners now.
Learning the Business Side
The other major challenge? Learning the business side of things—a completely foreign concept to me.
I had spent my entire nursing career in the public health system, where everything was straightforward: submit your timesheet, and your pay arrives with tax, superannuation, and everything else neatly sorted. Now, I had to figure out all of this myself. What business structure was best? How would I handle tax, superannuation, insurance, and work cover? What about purchasing equipment, wound products, practice management software, and accounting software? The list felt endless.
But the hardest part? Setting a pricing structure.
I want my services to be accessible to everyone who needs them, but at the same time, my business has to be sustainable. The demand for specialist care isn’t going to decrease—it’s only growing. If I want this to be a long-term, viable service, I have to price accordingly.
Charging for my services—and especially adding a travel fee—has been the most uncomfortable part of the process. I know that for some, it may feel like a lot of money. But then, people spend hundreds of dollars at the hairdresserwithout hesitation. Others drive long distances without blinking at the cost of fuel and takeaway food. The travel fee isn’t just an extra charge—it’s what allows people to receive specialist care at home, rather than spending hours traveling to appointments.
And let’s not forget, people pay $130 for an 8-minute GP consult without question. Insane, I know. But it’s all about perspective.
Another important factor in pricing is my expertise. I’ve put in the work. I earned my nursing degree, spent years gaining hands-on clinical experience, and then went even further to specialize in this field. The knowledge and skills I bring to my patients are the result of years of dedication, study, and hard work.
So, as much as it makes me uncomfortable, I remind myself: I charge what I need to charge. Because the service I provide is valuable. Because my expertise is worth it. Because this work matters.
Even after considering all of this, pricing still feels uncomfortable. But I’m learning to own it.
Moving Forward
This journey hasn’t been easy, but every step has reinforced that I made the right decision. Becoming an independent stomal therapy nurse has given me the freedom to provide the level of care I always envisioned—care that truly makes a difference.
And at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.
