From the Ward to the Marketplace: The Nurse Selling Cooked Eggs to Build Her Dream
Africannurses
12/08/2026
Nursing is demanding, but for many nurses across Ghana and beyond, a single salary isn’t enough to fund the bigger dreams they carry: a home, a business, a better future for their families. That’s why more and more nurses are exploring side hustle ideas: from catering and hairstyling to retail and food vending, alongside their clinical work. This week’s Voice of Nurses feature tells the story of one nurse who Sell Cooked Eggs to Build Her Dream.
When people hear the word “nurse,” they often picture someone caring for patients inside a hospital ward, quiet, uniformed, dedicated to the sick. But for some nurses, their purpose extends far beyond the walls of the hospital. For Doreen Gwirah, nursing is not only a profession; it is the foundation on which she is building a much bigger vision.
Doreen is a Registered Public Health Nurse currently undertaking her National Service. She is also an entrepreneur, a caterer, and a hairstylist. “Success does not always begin with a big opportunity,” she says. “Sometimes it begins with a small idea, consistency, and the courage to take the first step.”
Her journey into nursing, she says, has been one of passion, learning, and growth, one that taught her discipline, compassion, patience, and the importance of serving others. But alongside that professional identity, Doreen has always carried an entrepreneurial spirit. “I have always loved selling and creating opportunities for myself,”
she says. “I believe in starting small, working hard, and building something meaningful.”
The Idea Behind the Egg Business
The idea of selling cooked eggs came from an unexpected moment. After returning from a visit to Canada, Doreen was travelling from Accra to Takoradi when she bought a cooked egg for GH₵4. “At that moment, my entrepreneurial spirit came alive,” she recalls. She started wondering how much those selling eggs were making, and whether there was a real opportunity in the business.
When she got home, she asked her mother about the price of a crate of eggs. After doing the calculations, she realized there was potential. She told her parents she wanted to start selling eggs. Though they thought she was joking at first, her mother supported her with the things she needed to begin.
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Doreen started the business, but after four days, she stopped because of the challenges she faced. The dream, however, did not end there. When she later developed a dream of opening her own beauty salon, she decided to start again, this time with a clear purpose: to sell eggs, save money, and use it to build her salon.
Balancing Nursing and Entrepreneurship
Nursing, Doreen says, has greatly influenced the way she approaches business. The profession taught her patience, responsibility, attention to detail, empathy, and the importance of caring for people, values that now guide the way she treats her customers.
Breaking Stereotypes
Selling cooked eggs exposed Doreen to different reactions. Some people assumed she was just trying to make ends meet, while others were surprised to discover she was a nurse. Although some looked down on her work, these experiences only strengthened her resolve. “There is dignity in honest work,” she says, “and no one should be ashamed of working hard to achieve their dreams.”
Her Message to Nurses and Young People
To her fellow nurses and young people, Doreen says: do not limit yourself. Nursing is a noble profession, but having another skill or source of income can help you grow financially and personally. Do not despise small beginnings, your first step may not look impressive to others, but it can become the foundation of something great. Learn skills, work hard, save, and invest in yourself.
As she puts it: “Never be ashamed of honest work. The same hands that serve others can also build a better future for themselves.”
Share Your Story With Us
Are you a nurse with a side hustle, a business, or a dream you’re building alongside your profession? Doreen’s story is just one of many, and we want to tell yours too. Whether it’s a small business, a bold career move, or a lesson learned the hard way, your experience could inspire another nurse to take their first step.
Reach out to us and let’s feature your story in next week.
The story of Doreen Gwirah, RN | PHN, compiled and curated by Beatrice Sewor, RN — National Best Nurse/Midwife 2025.”