CNS, Entrepreneurship, & Purpose: My Nursing Career Story

Let's dive into my story about my journey from being a bedside nurse to a nurse entrepreneur. It's a tale of grit, a dash of delusion (or as I lovingly call it, 'delu-lu'), and the undeniable power of passion.

My Roots

It all started in a bustling mother-baby unit, where the sounds of beeping monitors and swift footsteps became my daily orchestra. I worked as a bedside nurse taking care of moms and babies for most of my career. Both my parents were also nurses, so you could say caring runs in my blood.

My late mom was a postpartum nurse who got her master’s degree and became a licensed Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and my dad, whose own perseverance and determination got us to the United States, showed me what true dedication looked like.

Fun fact: I worked with my mom in the same unit as a mother-baby nurse at that time. We used to joke when introducing ourselves to our patients. My mom would say, “Hi, my name is Aida, I am the lactation consultant.” I’d say, “And I’m Vanessa, I’ll be your mother-baby nurse for tonight. Oh, and also, this is my mom—and I’m her baby.” These experiences stood as my foundation and molded me into who I am today.

Leveling Up

Then came the itch for more—the knowledge that I could do more, be more. I pursued a Doctorate in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University in their Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) program, not just to add Dr. in front of my name, but to arm myself with the tools to make real change.

As a CNS, I no longer just work one-on-one with patients; I am shaping policies, leading projects that revamp care protocols, and ensuring that our practices are evidence-based. It was about making a difference on a grand scale, about being that change agent who could bridge the gap between direct care and systemic improvement.

The Healthcare Ninjas

Ever heard of a CNS? No? Well, we’re healthcare’s best-kept secret! We’re like the ninjas of the hospital; you might not always see us, but boy, do we make waves!

Mastering the Art of Triple Threat

As a CNS, I am also an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, juggling three major realms: patient, nursing, and system. Think of it as being a triple threat in healthcare.

At the patient level, we’re up close and personal, using our clinical superpowers to boost outcomes one patient at a time. Flip to the nursing side, and we’re the sage mentors shaping the minds and methods of our fellow nurses. Then, at the system level, we’re the behind-the-scenes strategists, pushing for policies that make healthcare smarter, smoother, and more accessible.

More Than Meets the Eye

The reason you might not have heard much about us? Well, our role is a bit of a chameleon—always adapting and often blending in. We’re involved in so many different things that it can sometimes be confusing to pin down exactly what we do. But make no mistake, whether we’re wearing the educator hat, the policy-maker cape, or the direct care boots, we are an essential piece of the healthcare puzzle.

Packing a Prescription Punch

In some states, we even have the authority to prescribe medications. Yep, that’s right—on top of everything else, we can whip up a treatment plan and manage patient care from diagnosis to discharge.

‍Everyday Heroes

So, CNSs are there, day in and day out, making sure that patients get the best care, nurses are on top of their game, and the healthcare system keeps ticking like a well-oiled machine. We're the unsung heroes—or ninjas, if you will—of the healthcare world, silently and subtly shaping the way care is delivered.

So next time you're in a hospital and things seem to be running a little too smoothly, chances are there’s a CNS in the shadows making sure everything goes just right. We’re here, we’re passionate, and we’re making a difference—one stealthy step at a time.

Once I understood what a CNS was and developed the passion to become one, I knew I needed to get the word out there. I had to find a way to let the world know about the amazing role of the CNS. Next stop: entrepreneurship.

The Entrepreneurial Leap: A Clothing Brand with a Mission

I have always been a go-getter with unthinkable ambition. In fact, after earning my doctorate, I told my husband that I wanted to venture into business. Being the supportive husband that he is, he joked, “Cool. What’s next? Would you like to be a pilot?” 

Here’s where the delu-lu mindset comes in: I had no formal training in marketing or business management. What I had was a vision and a tribe. I knew that I wanted to spread awareness about our CNS role. I knew that people needed to know we exist. And that is how the SBDesigns clothing brand was born. At the end of the day, it was about identity, community, and advocacy.

The learning curve? Steep. The nights? Sleepless. The reward? Beyond words.

Imagine us, my husband and I, blind leading the blind, surrounded by boxes, our living room transformed into a makeshift fulfillment center—I even turned it into an Instagram reel using the audio, “This is what $0 an hour looks like.” So far, the entrepreneurial leap has taught me three key things:

1. Networking and Growth

Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards; it’s about building a family of like-minded friends who believe, against all odds, that yes, we can make this work. Surrounding myself with people who pushed boundaries, who laughed in the face of norms and danced on the edge of possibilities—that was my kind of team.

2. Advice from the Trenches

For those of you nursing a dream (pun intended), remember: the path isn’t always clear or easy. Embrace your unique strengths, your clinical insights, and yes, even your delusions of grandeur. Every stumble is a step forward, every setback a setup for a comeback.

3. Keep Dreaming Big

As I look back—from the sleepless nights, Googling of how-to’s, and Youtubing marketing strategies—I realize I wouldn’t change a thing. This journey has taught me that with a bit of grit, a good dose of delu-lu, and a lot of heart, anything is possible.

Plot Twist…

In a surprising twist in this journey, I recently heeded another calling. Inspired by my passion for maternal mental health and fueled by my own personal story, I channeled my inner poet and wrote a children’s book* aimed at uplifting moms who may be struggling after having a baby. If my story touches even just one mom, then the book’s purpose would be fulfilled in my eyes. But guess what? It became the #1 top seller among new children’s book releases in its first week on Amazon!

So from bedside to leadership to nurse entrepreneurship to authorship, my nursing journey has been filled with unexpected and wonderful adventures—and it’s only just beginning.

And to my husband, no, I’m not enrolling to become a pilot—yet!

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Vanessa Abacan is a Board-Certified Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and a licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Texas. She is affiliated with the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) as the Women, Infants, and Children’s Hospital CNS. 

Contents of this blog post are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of her affiliated employer.

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MSN DNP Bedside Non-Bedside Postpartum Clinical Nurse Specialist