Meet Rhonda Savain | Registered Nurse, Certified Teacher, Professional Life Coach, Breast Cancer Survivor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rhonda Savain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rhonda, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Freedom! Following has never come easy for me. From the age of 6 I always remember trying to be first in everything I did. Even 1st on the line when we played outside for recess in Catholic School and we had to “line up.” As a result, it was difficult to work at a “job” where you had to be told what to do, and what days you could be off. I remember when I first became a Registered Nurse at the age of 21 my supervisor would ask “what holiday do you want to work Christmas or New Year?” I would respond New Year but in my head I would say “none.” In order to make that a reality I knew I had to be self employed.

Flexibility! When I realized my son had Autism at the age of 2 this hastened my desire to be an entrepreneur to spend more time with him. From special education, to occupational therapy, to several doctor appointments the journey began. Again I knew that working full time for someone else would not work. This Autism journey prompted me to leave nursing and become a teacher. Teaching was better than 12 hour nights and days in the hospital but I still felt restricted, I knew there was more. After 8 years of teaching High School I decided to start my 1st business Ready To Pass Inc. Ready To Pass Inc is a tutoring business for nurses. We assist Licensed Practical Nursing students and Registered Nursing students to pass their state exam which is called NCLEX. I used my nursing and teaching experience to launch this business with another partner and 18 years later we are still in business. Although Covid-19 caused us close our brick and mortar in 2020 we are still open and 100% virtual.

Compassion! Decisions Life Coaching was birth out of the desire to combine my nursing, teaching and life experiences to help others. Also available virtually, or in person, I coach adolescents, cancer, special needs parents, and nurses,

What should our readers know about your business?
Being an entrepreneur is never easy. However, the rewards are great and the hard work is worth it. I have started 6 businesses in my lifetime. 5 are still viable today. I will only discuss 3.

1. Decisions Life Coaching – provides life coaching in areas that many coaches do not select for example Autism and Cancer and Medication Management. My personal experiences that I have had to conquer in these areas allow me to be competent and compassionate. If I had to state which battle is harder, Autism has been the hardest battle of my life. My son is now 26 and he lives independently. I’m excited to teach parents that have special needs individuals that independent living is possible. Cancer is extremely devastating as well. After surviving 10 surgeries and Chemotherapy I am here to say cancer is able to be conquered! Coaching is available virtually and in- person (Fayetteville, Georgia). Mobile coaching is also available (Atlanta, Georgia).

2. Ready To Pass Inc – We are in the middle of a nursing shortage and I am happy to be a part of the solution. In 2003 Derrice Gordon and I started Ready To Pass Inc in Long Island, New York to assist nurses to pass their state boards. When we started we we were unaware that many nurses were failing the exam. We have helped over 10,000 nurses to pass their exam many of whom have tested several times before being successful. 18 years later we are still doing it! That is so invigorating as so many business did not survive Covid-19. We are different in that we teach nursing students how to think critically and utilize nursing judgement. We offer 24/7 online courses as well as live online webinars.

3. Transitions Career Institute School Of Nursing – TCI is located in Flushing, Queens New York and opened in 2014. It is a Licensed Practical Nursing School. As far as we know, it is the only African American owned Nursing School in the State of New York. Myself and 2 other partners spent 5 years filling out applications and waiting for approval. None of these businesses received special funds to open and were established with personal funds and donations from family and friends. In 2019 after serving 5 years as the Director of Curriculum and Student Development I retired. The school is still flourishing.

The challenges of managing 4 businesses are substantial. Nevertheless, I would rather run 4 businesses and have flexibility and freedom than work 1 job!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a native of Aruba, I love to eat Caribbean food so we would have to go to Spice house in Lithonia. For fun I would go to Skate Zone in Morrow, my son and I love to skate. They are also very welcoming to individuals with special needs. We would probably rent an Airbnb in Blue Ridge mountains for a few days. Driving golf carts in Peachtree City, and walking in several parks with Lakes ( Like Shamrock in Tyrone) to observe nature would my highlight as I believe less is best.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out Mrs Ernestine Becton my 8th grade teacher at St. Joseph School in Jamaica, Queens, NY. I credit a lot of my success to Ernestine. She was professional and genuinely cared for all of her students. She assisted us to get into the High Schools of our choice. We were also taught moral and character education which is unquestionably lacking in society today.

Website: www.decisionslc.com

Instagram: @decisionslc

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Nclexreadytopass

Other:
www.readytopass.com
www.tcilpn.com