Experience of nurse entrepreneurs in long term institutions for elderly people

To understand the nurse entrepreneur experience in long term institutions for elderly (LTIE) and to elaborate a theorical model regarding that experience process.

Qualitative research with theorical saturation, through analysis of the 10th nondirective interview, audio-recorded and transcribed, according to the Grounded Theory, with nurses in activity and those who had to quit the business.

Three subprocesses emerged: (A) looking at the LTIE as a promising business to offer to the aging population; (B) discovering herself/himself without entrepreneur training/experience to carry on a social enterprise; (C) changing from preservation, expansion, and finally business discontinuance. The core category (process) was abstracted from the realignment of those subprocesses components: From the dream to expansion, preservation, and business abandonment: nurse training/experience for social enterprise as an intervening component.

In light of the Business Model Canvas, it showed the experiential process little instrumented by the fundamentals of business management, to support the proposal, overview and altering business.