Hi, I’m Carla.
If you’re here, there’s a good chance you’re feeling the way I once did.
Exhausted.
Burned out.
Questioning whether you can keep doing nursing for another five, ten, or twenty years.
I understand because I was there too.
I’ve been a nurse since 2010. My journey began as an LPN, and after four years in long-term care, I earned my nursing degree from the University of Central Florida.
Throughout my career, I worked in pediatric home health, adult home health, public health, and ICU trauma, burn, and cardiac units.
Like so many nurses, I entered healthcare because I wanted to help people.
And I did.
But somewhere along the way, I realized I was sacrificing my own health, my family, and my future.
Long shifts became normal.
Missed holidays became expected.
Even my days off weren’t really days off. They were often filled with mandatory education, certifications, or preparing to go right back to work.
I barely had time to make memories with my husband and our family.
Then life became even more difficult.
After multiple car accidents(during my collage years), I developed fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome while working in nursing.
The physical demands of nursing and years of burnout only made those conditions worse.
Back pain, exhaustion, insomnia, and the emotional weight of caregiving eventually caught up with me.
I knew something had to change…
I Left the Wrong Way
When I finally decided to leave nursing, I made a mistake that I don’t want you to make.
I turned in my two weeks’ notice before I had a real business plan.
Instead of finishing my notice, I was let go that very day.
I walked out of the hospital shocked, scared, and completely unprepared for what came next.
I thought starting a business would be simple.
Spoiler alert…It wasn’t.
For the next seven years, I stumbled through trial and error. I started businesses, made expensive mistakes, got discouraged, started over, and repeated the cycle more times than I can count.
I wasn’t failing because I lacked determination.
I was failing because no one had ever taught me the right order to build a business.
Once I finally learned the process, everything changed.
Why I Created Life After Nursing
I created Life After Nursing because I don’t want other nurses to experience what I did.
I don’t want you to wait until burnout affects your health.
I don’t want you to feel trapped by a schedule that steals time from your family.
And I definitely don’t want you to leave nursing without a plan.
That’s why I created my 12 Doses to Business Success framework.
It’s the roadmap I wish someone had handed me before I ever submitted my resignation.
Instead of spending years figuring everything out through trial and error, my goal is to help you build your business the right way—from mindset and choosing a niche to creating content, building your website, protecting your business, and preparing to leave nursing with confidence.
My Mission
My mission is simple:
To help burned-out nurses build a business, create financial freedom, and transition out of nursing with confidence.
I believe your nursing experience is not wasted.
The compassion, resilience, critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills you’ve developed over the years are some of your greatest business assets.
You don’t have to stay where you are.
You don’t have to choose between burnout and uncertainty.
There is another path.
And I’d be honored to help you find it.
Welcome to Life After Nursing
Whether you’ve read my blog, listened to the podcast, taken my course, or simply just exploring what’s possible, I’m grateful you’re here.
I hope Life After Nursing gives you more than business education.
I hope it gives you hope.
Because your story doesn’t end at the bedside.
In many ways…
It’s just beginning. ❤️
With love, faith, and coffee,
Carla Rich
Founder & CEO, Life After Nursing