How does someone who never imagined business ownership end up running a thriving primary care practice in a small Florida beach town? Stephanie Sanchez, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, ARNP, shares how a retiring physician, a supportive partner, and a willingness to learn opened the door to becoming a practice owner.

Stephanie walks us through her path from ICU nurse to critical care NP, the unexpected offer to take over a 30-year-old clinic, and the long transition that followed as she navigated credentialing, contracting, and restructuring the practice into an autonomous NP-led medical center. She explains how she kept her patient panel strong, introduced new service lines like weight loss, peptide therapy, aesthetics, and HRT, and grew her team to support more than 3,000 patients.

We also talk about early fears, practical marketing on a small budget, and the operations behind sustaining and scaling a community practice. Stephanie closes with grounded advice for NPs considering ownership: be patient with yourself, use your networks, and remember that clarity and confidence come from taking action.