Ever wonder what it would be like to work at a wellness center as a nurse concierge with VIP patients?
So did Nena Hart, MSN RN, CHPN, CLPN, CDONA, RAC-CT, Owner and Consultant of Hart Healthcare Solutions, and the author of Quick Start Guide to Nurse Consulting, The Long-Term Care Sustainability Strategy, and the Open Window Opportunities Journal for Nurses.
Hart took the time to answer Daily Nurse’s questions about working as a nurse concierge.
How did you get interested in becoming a Concierge with VIP appointments at a wellness resort? How long have you been doing it?
I’ve been doing concierge visits at two resorts near me for almost a year. A physician I previously worked with at a facility is a mobile doctor with a concierge wellness business, and I contract with him when visits are needed.
How many appointments do you tend to have each week? Or does it vary?
The resort schedules them inside the window I have available. Right now, I do Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 a.m. We can also do Saturdays. An NP and an MA will cover for me if I am off the island or on Saturdays.
I average 2-6 appointments each day. They take about 15 minutes to obtain the sample and run the test to ensure everything returns.
Nena Hart, MSN RN, CHPN, CLPN, CDONA, RAC-CT, Owner and Consultant of Hart Healthcare Solutions
Explain why you are “testing biomarkers at a wellness resort.” What are you/the clients looking for? How does it help them?
I do a fingerstick blood test and run their Glucose, A1C, and lipids with a point-of-care machine that gives the results in a few minutes. I leave the results for the resort dietician or nutritionist. The resort uses the biomarkers as part of a wellness program, teaches the guests nutrition habits, and gives them tips and wellness plans for improving them.
Why do you enjoy about being a nurse concierge with VIP patients?
This is extremely low-stress, quick, and easy work. I love it. I love meeting new people and talking to the guests, and learning about them.
I love going to the resorts. They are high-end, and I love the scenery and serenity of going first thing in the morning. It gets me up early and starts my day in a good mindset. I’ll walk around after I’m done and exercise if I don’t have anything immediately after. If they have a guest who needs something at night, they can call the doctor’s on-call line, and I will sometimes go to give injections of steroids or whatever is ordered by the doctor.
If nurses are interested in getting involved in this kind of work, what would you suggest they do?
I’d suggest they network and introduce themselves to resort management and ask about the programs they offer and if a nurse could supplement that. If they’re looking for a subcontract and not running a contract themselves, I’d start building relationships with concierge nurses and physicians who likely need help covering their contracts at times. This type of work is 100% based on relationships and networking.
What do you get out of it besides the money?
One day they messed up the schedule, and I had just gotten back to my house and had a call scheduled with one of my consulting clients. But they should have scheduled a guest, which would result in a complaint. So to provide good service, I ran back up and did it for them without expectations. The manager was so grateful she gave my husband and me 90 minutes of private self-guided spa time; it was the most fantastic experience ever. I have pictures and can’t get over how amazing it was for us to do that—it was something special I wouldn’t have done for myself.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about being a nurse concierge?
Nurses can get these contracts for themselves. I am primarily a nurse consultant, so this is a subcontract for me and is my main side gig other than courses and coaching other consultants since I work for myself full-time. Nurses can do anything they want. It’s all about thinking outside of the box. It takes time and effort to build relationships and rapport. Don’t give up!
I’d love for nurses to connect with me on social media. I have a FB group for aspiring and established nurse entrepreneurs and do a podcast for nurses looking to use their skills in a new way, Nurses Making Waves. We discuss opportunities like this that nurses can use to add to their revenue streams.
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