Nurses are typically seen as caregivers but also make fantastic writers and blog content creators. They are very knowledgeable and can create many different forms of written content. Their writing skills are not limited to research articles; they can create educational brochures or pamphlets for medical companies or doctors’ offices.
Nurse writers bring engagement to content with relatable writing that conveys understanding and empathy to readers.
Empathy can be hard to convey in person, let alone in a blog. Nurses’ experience providing bedside empathy makes this easier to do. One way that nurses do this is by knowing who their audience is. Nurses encounter people from many different cultural backgrounds and walks of life. Knowing the audience aids in creating common ground and understanding between the nurse and the reader.
Personal stories can be a tool that nurses use in blog content to provide shared experiences. Sharing stories with readers allows for understanding what the reader may be going through. Using personal stories assists with approaching difficult topics that readers may be experiencing and helps them know they are not alone. A blog post explaining the importance of mammograms for breast cancer screening could tell a story of how breast cancer impacted the writer.
While personal stories allow for a connection between nurse writers and readers, using empathetic language creates a bond of understanding between the writer and the audience. Nurse writers use their experiences with patients to connect with the reader on a personal level. Using positive and affirming language allows the nurse writer to empower the reader and provide support and compassion.
Nurses connect with patients through writing just as they do when caring for them at the bedside. Nurses actively listen to the patient and their families to help them better understand what the patient is thinking and feeling. When a patient comes to the hospital with a stroke, it is a stressful time for their loved ones. A nurse actively listens to the family and their needs to advocate for them. As an advocate, the nurse facilitates communication between the patient and the physician.
Often, physicians explain medical tests and procedures to patients and families in complex terms. The nurse uses their knowledge and training to explain in simpler terms why the test or procedure is being performed. The patient that arrived at the hospital having stroke-like symptoms will likely have a computed tomography (CT) scan of their head. A nurse could explain what a CT scan is to the patient and family in terms that they can understand. This skill allows the nurse writer to relay information in many ways to fit the audience better.
Nurses use many traits in their blog content to provide empathy and compassion. The benefit of empathy and compassion is that it helps to create a connection between the writer and the reader. This connection begins by making the reader more comfortable and at ease with the subject. A technique that nurse writers use to help the reader feel more comfortable is sharing personal stories.
By helping the reader feel more comfortable and at ease, the nurse writer can make the reader more receptive to information. In the same way that a nurse can help a patient work through limitations, they are also able to guide the reader through concerns they may have about different topics. By making the reader more receptive, the nurse writer can ensure that educational material is better received. A frustrated and upset patient is more likely to ignore new information.
Nurse-written blog content supports continued engagement. By making the reader more receptive, the nurse writer increases return readers. Similar to how patients and families develop an attachment to a nurse, readers develop a relationship with the writer.
Empathy is the heart of nursing. It is the foundation for creating high satisfaction among readers. Nurses are professionals in communicating with and educating patients of all backgrounds. They are highly educated and lifelong learners dedicated to providing accurate and up-to-date information. The nursing profession is highly trusted and is constantly changing.
The role of a nurse has grown over time to include the title of educator, leader, and patient advocate. Through writing, nurses can provide education and promote health and wellness. Combining the many skills of nurses, such as being open-minded, understanding disease processes, seeking constant education, and having a compassionate heart, ensures that nurses will positively impact patient outcomes at the bedside and through blog content.
Using nurse writers to create content positively impacts your blog. Nurses write empathetic and compassionate content that is educational and relatable. Finding a good fit for your blog is crucial, and we can help you at WriteRN. Our database includes over 150 vetted nurse writers, ensuring you find the perfect nurse writer for you and your blog.
Johansen, A. (2022, June 3). What role does empathy play in nursing?. Daily Nurse. https://dailynurse.com/what-role-does-empathy-play-in-nursing/
Lakhanigam, S. (2017, December 14). Critical thinking: A vital trait for nurses – minority nurses. Minority Nurse. https://minoritynurse.com/critical-thinking-vital-trait-nurses/
Mills, M. (2019, September 5). 5 ways RNS can improve patient care. NurseChoice. https://www.nursechoice.com/blog/profiles-and-features/ways-rns-can-improve-patient-care/
Massachusetts Nurses Association. (2023, January 12). Gallup 2023 Survey Shows Nurses Trusted as Most Honest, Ethical for 22nd Straight Year. https://www.massnurses.org/news-&-events/p/openItem/12524#:~:text=%E2%80%93%20For%20the%2022nd%20consecutive%20year,survey%20released%20on%20January%2010
Zehender, J. (2020, June 17). Write to heal: Becoming a nurse-writer. Medium. https://medium.com/@johannazehender/write-to-heal-becoming-a-nurse-writer-8e2c008e7a19
Shanda Parson, BSN, RN is a freelance health writer and owner of Vital Writer RN, LLC. She has been a registered nurse since 2018, specializing in critical care and quality improvement, and has an interest in sports and exercise science. Shanda writes to educate through various formats of articles and blogs.
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