Owning an FNP Private Practice

By Michele Wojciechowski

Ever wonder what it’s like to have a practice as an FNP? We reached out to one to give you the details.

Ever since she finished nursing school, Aliesha Mann, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, IHP2, knew she wanted a private practice eventually.

Because she lives in Maryland—an independent practice state—Mann knew she could eventually open her practice whenever she decided to. So she returned to school to earn her FNP while working as a nurse on an Ortho/MedSurgical floor.

In 2018, she graduated from Chamberlain University and began, at that time, treating adults and children in a private orthopedic practice. But that wasn’t where she wanted to stay.

“I decided to open my practice at the end of 2021, and I truly wanted my practice to thrive off of a more holistic approach,” explains Mann. So in 2022, she became the founder and CEO of Zynda Integrated Health and Wellness.

In the meantime, she furthered her education to learn more about Adult and Pediatric Integrative Health, Functional Medicine, and Functional Blood Chemistry.

“I wanted my practice to solely be virtual starting, to be able to reach people nationwide through one-on-one health consulting/preventive care,” says Mann. But she has big plans for the future. “The intent is to grow and eventually open an in-person family wellness practice.”

Not One-Size-Fits-All

Mann’s practice offers highlevel, holistic health consulting one-on-one with virtual clients.

“I help high-performing women--primarily busy moms who are either stay-at-home or career-driven, and I help kids as well. I help them get to the root causes of digestive issues, low energy, and brain fog. I additionally support women on their fertility journeys, from preconception to pregnancy to postpartum care. I can relate to this population of people as a wife and a mother,” she says. “Fertility health is especially important after my ectopic pregnancy last year. My practice allows me to dedicate time, support, and accountability to those individuals who don’t receive that attention in a normal 15- to 20-minute appointment. It allows me the capacity to focus on lifestyle and nutrition in a more indepth way! I love it.”

Mann also says she loves her current practice because she can get to the root cause of symptoms. “I don’t use bandaid approaches or quick fixes. Instead, I incorporate mindset, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications and educate people to be the healthiest versions of themselves. I meet people where they are in life, and they get access to me any day and time of the week. They aren’t waiting weeks or months to follow up if symptoms pop up. They can contact me at the moment, and we will address it. I use state-of-theart functional medicine testing and blood work to help me provide answers and find an individualized treatment approach. My practice isn’t one-size-fits-all,” explains Mann.

Encouragement

According to Mann, her FNP was a stepping stone to where she is now. “Having my FNP has opened many doors and also given me a great knowledge base,” she says.

If you’re thinking about earning an FNP or you already have one but have been thinking about opening your practice, Mann is encouraging. “I would say if you live in an independent practice state and have big dreams of opening your own practice, go for it! Don’t hesitate. So many opportunities open up as a nurse practitioner in any field of study that interests you. My path led me to Integrative and Functional Medicine,” says Mann. “The best reward is when a patient smiles and thanks you for the care you have given to them, and you can truly feel that deep appreciation. It makes any tough day better. In my business now, I love it when I hear, “No other physician has ever shown me the kind of attention and care that you do.”

By opening her practice, Mann says she has found exactly where she needs to be: “I think it is important to know that when you find your true calling and passion, work will never feel like work. I truly love what I do and how I can help people thrive and live joy-filled lives in a more holistic way!”

Michele Wojciechowski is a national award-winning freelance writer based in Baltimore, Maryland. She loves writing about nursing but comes close to fainting when she sees blood. She’s also the author of the humor book, Next Time I Move, They’ll Carry Me Out in a Box