The Perspectives of Canadian Nurse Entrepreneurs and Related Policy Implications: An Interpretive Description Study

Nursing entrepreneurship presents as a viable and innovative approach for nursing practice while contributing to health system transformation. And yet, in countries such as Canada where universal health care funding has most nurses working as employees for state-funded health service providers, few nurses are self-employed. This qualitative study acquired the perspectives of eleven practicing Canadian nurse entrepreneurs from across Canada, and six Canadian nurse leaders with respect to current nursing practice, contexts, and issues that serve to inform and guide the development of national and provincial/territorial policies that support nursing entrepreneurship. Three categorical themes were identified: Going alone versus going along; Resistance outside of convention; and, Nursing entrepreneurship: Outcomes and opportunities. The overall findings highlight a resistance-resilience dialectic for nurse entrepreneurs, the outcome of which sees them advancing nursing practice and health system reform. Meso and macro level policy recommendations that aim to support nursing enterprise within Canada are discussed.