This Nurse Created Her Own Opportunities - Ep. 34
Dr. Jessica Chung opened her own private practice, J.C. Healthcare & Associates in Tampa, FL. Now she trains others to explore their endless potential and trains advanced practice nurses to open med spas, specialty clinics, and concierge services. If you are interested in providing services like IV Hydration, alternative medicine, and DOT physicals, Dr. Chung is your girl. Join her April 4th in Tampa, Florida for her Private Practice 101 Training.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Naseema McElroy (04:45): I am super honored to have Dr. JessicaChung join us on the Nurses on Fire Podcast. Hey Jessica.
Jessica Chung (04:56): Hey, Naseema.
Naseema McElroy (04:57): Jessica has an extraordinary story of how she was able to start her own practice as a nurse practitioner and is teaching others how to do so. So Jessica, tell us how you got started in nursing and then we'll talk about where you are now.
Jessica Chung (05:13): All right. So, I got started in nursing and actually I had considered two majors while I was in undergrad. And probably like a lot of people, I knew I wanted to go to medical field. And so I considered premed. I did, I was a biology major. I did that for a year and I just wasn't feeling it. So, and then I was like, Oh well maybe I'll do accounting. I'm good with numbers. I was good with math and numbers and science. So, it was always math or science. And I was like, well, I don't know how to do it that. And so finally I just made literally like a last minute decision to go into the nursing program. And now that I think about in hindsight, I did that and that was all faith because I took all the courses, had no idea if I was even going to to actually get into nursing program. But lo and behold I made it. I'm in, I made it through and I'm here now.
Naseema McElroy (06:09): Right. I love that you started in undergrad and it's crazy because like you said, I was premed and then I didn't really know any nurses and so I was just like, be a doctor. People are always pushing to be a doctor. So I was like, why would I be a nurse? And somebody was like, you should really get into the nursing program. And I thought that they were insulting me. This is, you know, 18-year old me. And so I was like, why would I be a nurse if I was going to be a doctor? Like why would you say that? But that was the last year that they offered a nursing program at USC and I wish my roommate across the hall was in the nursing program and she's a DMP as well. And I wish I would have went to nursing school then like that's one of my biggest regrets.
So yeah, same path, two different decisions. So you went to nursing school, undergrad, but now you're a doctorate in nursing. So talk to me about that journey.
Jessica Chung (06:58): Well, one thing, when I went into nursing, I knew I wanted to be a nurse practitioner and my story was I actually was talking to a classmate in biology class, I believe it was. And he was telling me how his mom was a nurse practitioner at that time. This was back 2004, 2005, I don't think I had ever heard of that term, that profession. And it definitely wasn't saturated back then in the early 2000s and I was like, wait, so you mean to tell me like your mom's a nurse, but she could do things that physicians can do. And I was like, Oh, I like the way that sounds. I like that. So when I went into nursing school, I knew I wanted to be a nurse practitioner. That was, or at least I thought that was my end goal. So, I was a registered nurse for a couple of years, not very long.
Jessica Chung (07:49): I think I did nursing for about three years before I decided to go back for my master's degree. So finally went back for my master's degree in 2013, graduated in 2015, what my concentration as a family nurse practitioner and I thought I was done. I was like, cool. I got my master's, I'm a nurse practitioner. Then I go out and make more money, you know, do what nurse practitioners do. And it wasn't until about a year later, I had a conversation with my pastor who encourages me so much and he was like, you need to go back for a doctorate. It's like, no sir. You don't know how much money I've spent. You don't know how many years I've been in school. You don't know how tired I am. I don't feel that calling. I don't think so. And as you can see, I listened, I obeyed, and I'm glad I did. So sometimes you need mentors, whether career, whether they're just coach mentors or even some spiritual mentors. I am so glad that I went back because there's just opportunities and doors that open for me and that because at my doctorate I was able to leverage that in so many ways. So that's how I made it here.
Naseema McElroy (09:06): Yes, I love it. I admire you. Getting a doctorate isn't on my radar but believe me it's been offered. But yeah, I've found that I'm an FNP as well and I'm in California though and it was just real opportunity costs to actually work as an FNP because the pay is lower and it's substantially lower in the clinics versus the hospitals just because of the way our unions are set up. And I don't know, I don't like clinic work. So the only way that I ever saw myself being FNP was to start my own practice. But when I was graduating from nursing school, I looked, I searched for resources on how a nurse practitioner can start their own practice and there was nothing there. There was like maybe this little ebook, like that was like a dollar or something out there and didn't really have that much information. And so I was just like, well, might as well just keep on making the good money that I'm making. And so I never even used my NP license and I graduated almost embarrassing to say like eight years ago. But you have solved that problem, right?
Jessica Chung (10:17): I would like to say that I did, at least for me. I would like to say I did.
Naseema McElroy (10:24): So tell us about what you help other nurse practitioners do.
Jessica Chung (10:28): Well, what I basically and, and I have an upcoming workshop in April 4th, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. And basically, what I'm doing is I am taking a year and a half worth of research, a year and a half worth of trial and error, a year and a half worth of saving. And I'm just taking everything that I've learned from different places, different resources, and I am basically just providing that to other nurse practitioners who were in my same predicament where, you know, and I'm not going to tell you I haven't had a great career, I've had a position wherein six figures was easy, there's no problem there. But, when you're starting to see how much time am I trading for this salary, am I really making 60, 65, 70,000-hour? If I add up all that hours that I'm working or am I making $30, which I can go back to the floor and work three 12 and half, four days off the week.
Jessica Chung (11:38): So I started to think about it and I said, well in some cases it's not always about the money and you have to look at other things. How are you trading your time for that money? And because time is money. And so, I just want to show other nurse practitioners that it is attainable, it is doable, and you just have to make a decision if it's for you, you know, if you are okay working and climbing the ladder where you are. There's nothing wrong with that at all. I just found an opportunity, doors were opening for me and I was being led in this direction. And you know, it's definitely, for me, it's definitely a dream come true.
Naseema McElroy (12:18): Right. So, in helping nurses like have their own practice and start their own business, what are some things that you feel like will allow them to create their own financial freedom? Like how is this different from working for somebody else or working just on the floor as a nurse? Like going back to being a floor nurse,
Jessica Chung (12:39): Right. So one thing I am learning, and I'm literally seeing this like kind of unfold before my eyes every day is that there are so many opportunities that as a entrepreneur or business owner that you can create for yourself that you necessarily, you could do it working a full time job, but it would be a bit more difficult. But it's definitely attainable. But when you step into the world of entrepreneurship, you create opportunities for yourself. You can do things that like for example me, I'm doing things that I could not find on the internet. I've researched, I've looked for a workshop, maybe a class that would help nurse practitioners start their own business and I couldn't find it. So basically, what did I do? I created an opportunity for myself and that's what I would say to someone who's a nurse who's still working on the floor or working a full time benefited job as to why would you go this route?
Jessica Chung (13:38): Well, you can create for yourself. Who said that your salary had to be capped at $100,000 a year? Why can't you exceed that? You know who said that all you had to do was healthcare as a nurse practitioner. Zthere's so much you could do. I mean in terms of health care who said it only had to be outpatient or hospitalists? You can consult, you can do product reviews, you can do education to other healthcare professionals. There's so much that the industry can use from our knowledge as nurse practitioners that the possibilities and opportunities are endless.
Naseema McElroy (14:18): Can you speak to some of the things that you've been able to do just being a nurse entrepreneur?
Jessica Chung (14:22): Make my own schedule. If there's not one thing that I love is I love to have my own schedule. I love to just do things when and how I want to.
Jessica Chung (14:35): Now does that mean I just feel like, Oh, I want to wake up at 10:00 AM, no. Whether I'm actually going into the office or going into work or something, I have a schedule. I get up in the morning, I do my routine, whatever it is I need to do. Because one thing about being an entrepreneur, you have to have discipline, you have to have discipline, you have to know discipline because or else you're going to fall apart. Your business is going to fall apart if you don't have discipline. But that's one thing I love is that having more freedom of my time. There are days where I work more than I want to. Then there's days where I work less than I want to. So it goes both ways. But in the end there's pros and cons to everything and going this out for me, there's definitely more pros than cons.
Naseema McElroy (15:24): So this is a financial podcast. So, what are some money mistakes that you've made along your journey?
Jessica Chung (15:30): Money, mistakes, so for... So let's go back to undergrad. So for the nurses that are in school or even nurse practitioners going back to school, if you can, get as much free money as possible. If somebody would have told me, sit down and apply for some scholarships, let somebody else pay for your schooling, I would've done it. But I didn't hear that a lot. And so therefore, I didn't know a lot about it. But I am floored. Those who are listening, there were so many scholarships out there available, whether you're a woman, no matter what your race it could be because your great grandfather was native American, there are so many scholarships available, get those scholarships and let somebody pay for your education. If you can graduate with no student loans, you are already ahead of the game.
Jessica Chung (16:25): So that is definitely, I wouldn't say it was a mistake is just a lack of knowledge that I wish I would've had is getting, you know, free money for schooling. Some other financial mistakes, I would say I wish I was had been more bold enough negotiating salaries in the past and even if I would've been shot down it didn't matter. At least I would have tried, but I, I wish I was bold enough, more bold to negotiate salaries because I look back on how much I've worked and how hard I've worked and I'm like, you know, I definitely could have made more money if you know, or they definitely could have paid me more. So that's another financial mistake I made. Don't be afraid to go out there and request that increase the negotiate those salaries. Don't be afraid to turn down an offer. Unfortunately, we are humans and we will fall ill, we will get sick. Healthcare is not going out of business. So I would say basically those are two definitely things I wish I would have done financially for myself.
Naseema McElroy (17:28): And I love that you brought up negotiating for your salary because a lot of people don't know. Usually, if you have a staff position they'll salaries are kind of set. But like especially as a nurse practitioner out there, there's plenty wiggle room to negotiate your salary. And especially early on, like if you can negotiate early on in your first position, a higher salary, your floor is so much lower. And it only goes up and know that most of the time when people are making the offer to you, it's the bottom of what they have available. And so, never be ashamed to ask for more. Never be ashamed to be like, listen, I need to think about this and I'll come back. Never be ashamed to turn something down because you're in fear of not being able to be employed because that's not the case. You know, nurses are highly employable.
Naseema McElroy (18:20): There are so many jobs out there and if it's not a good fit for you overall, and that includes making sure that your financial needs are covered, turn it down. Okay. And best believe. If they really want you, they'll court you and they'll try and get you back for what they can pay or what you want. So, I love that you mentioned that because just women in general, sometimes we don't negotiate and that's what leads to a lot of the wealth, the gap between or the wage gap between men and women. Because you know there's like this is what I need to get paid and I think we need to just come to employers with that same attitude, but I love it. I love it. So what like techniques or tools have really helped you in your career?
Jessica Chung (19:05): I think the techniques and tools that helped me is for me it was watching other people who are not in my industry and learning from those people and I think we feel like, Oh because I'm in healthcare, I should follow someone who's in healthcare also. But I mean there are so many entrepreneurs that I get tidbits from daily that are doing things that are different, that are lucrative to their business and you just basically you take the base or the foundation of what they're doing, their idea and then you work it for yourself in your own business or whatever you are doing as an entrepreneur. So definitely, that is a tool I use is that I will take business ideas or just tips from people in different industries. That has helped me a lot. Another tool, staying up to date with your industry and especially healthcare because it is always evolving and changing.
Jessica Chung (20:11): And so you really have to keep up with the times, especially if you want to be profitable, if you want to be successful. And for example, these days, everyone is getting into tele-medicine and I tried to shy away from it. I was like, no, I need to see my patient in the office. Oh they got to come and now I'm so busy. Well, if you're really my patient, let's just do a video chat, we'll follow up on a video. It works for them. It works for me. They still get that personalized healthcare. So basically staying up with the changes in your industry definitely, especially healthcare has helped me in my career.
Naseema McElroy (20:49): Yeah, I just love that healthcare is so dynamic. But there's so much opportunity to learn and grow and just, I feel like there's limitless opportunities as a nurse and what you can do, but you know, just be open and a lot of people are afraid of change, but in changing is where you really find the most growth. So I love that. So what other, you offered a whole lot of advices for future nurses. But if there was like one thing that you, not just for future nurses but for a nurse out there who may be a nurse practitioner who stuck in that clinic job, charging after hours, not being paid, overwhelmed, on the verge of burnout, what is one tip you can give her? What's one actionable thing she can do that can really change her trajectory, her career or financial trajectory?
Jessica Chung (21:43): You have to take a moment and step back and reevaluate why you decided to go into this career, into this profession. And I came to a point in my career where I was in a full time practice. I was there full time and because I felt like I was in a box and it wasn't really what I saw myself doing long term. And, and so at that time I was working full time at a practice and I made decision to go back for my doctorate and it was very hard going to school full time, working full time. So I made the decision and lot of people probably think this is crazy, but I left a well-paying benefited position. I took a PRN position as a nurse practitioner and I just said, you know what, I need to make enough just to cover the cost of my bills at this time.
Jessica Chung (22:40): I want to focus on school. And when I made that decision that was a scary decision because I thought financially it would be hard. But because I took that time to step back, reevaluate, refocus, I would say it was probably the best decision I made because who knows, you know, school made it fall by the wayside if I would've continued working full time and the opportunities that I have now where I am now may have not arrived had I not made that decision. So you definitely, if you are in that place, you have to step back, refocus, reevaluate, make some decisions and sometimes they're hard decisions. But you have to look at your longterm goals where versus the right here and right now.
Naseema McElroy (23:22): I love it. And let's talk about your upcoming workshop that you have in Tampa, Florida. Give us some more deets and how can people attend that?
Jessica Chung (23:30): Yeah, so it is the nurse practitioner workshops, so it's Start Your Own Practice 101 and basically it will be April 4th, 2020 at The Meet Suite right outside of Tampa in Brandon, Florida. So, if you are in that area or if you want to travel to that area, the information will be on my social media handles and tickets will be at Eventbrite. And so basically, everything that I've learned at all the tips and tools and resources, I'm going to have some individuals who know about business law, trademarking, other nurse practitioners who've started their own business, gave some other resources and talk to the attendees and just basically help everyone jumpstart their dream and go for their vision of starting their own practice. Because I get hit probably on a weekly basis from nurse practitioners that are interested in starting their own practice. And they're always asking me, how did I do it? What did they do? And so basically I just decided, you know what, I'm going to do this workshop and I'm going to see how I can help others.
Naseema McElroy (24:39): I love it and I'm sure that there are plenty nurses that can benefit from this. So, if you are in the Tampa, Florida area or if you want to travel to the Tampa, Florida area, I know that you'll gain a lot of value from this workshop. So thank you so much Jessica. And also just share your social media handles where people can get in contact and follow up with you.
Jessica Chung (25:00): Yes, all my social media handles are Dr. Jessica Chung. So Dr. Jessica Chung on Facebook, drjessicachung, Instagram, Dr. Jessica Chung on LinkedIn, also www.Drjessicachung.com.
Naseema McElroy (25:16): That website, don't forget that. So thank you so much Dr. Jessica Chung, [laughs] to put respect on your name, for joining the Nurses on Fire community. I love how you just are so inspirational and sharing about how we have to invest in ourselves because you know we basically have a blank check and we need to take advantage of the fact that we have so much opportunity and thank you for sharing your story and I know that through this workshop and through your platform, you'll inspire so many. So thank you again for coming on.
Hey there I’m Naseema
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