Advancing nursing enterprises: A cross-country comparison

BackgroundHealth system transformations in the United States are creating new opportunities for nursing innovation, although financial sustainability has limited the expansion of nurse managed clinics.PurposeWe explore case studies of nursing enterprises in the developing world and discuss their potential for informing related work in the United States.MethodsCases were selected from the Center for Health Market Innovations.DiscussionWe describe a professional association network of clinics in Tanzania, a social franchise in Kenya, and a cooperative in the Philippines. All programs empowered nurses to own, lead, and advance their professional influence. They had a social mission of improving access to care for disadvantaged populations, while increasing employment and autonomy of women. They also provided a shared platform for branding, purchasing, and quality assurance.ConclusionOrganization sponsors in these models may be relevant to different actors in the United States. Each demonstrates the importance of a collective approach to advancing nursing enterprises.