- By Wendy Sutas, BSN, RN
As subject matter experts with healthcare backgrounds and clinical expertise, nurse writers in CEU development are undeniably the best option to fill the role in this area of healthcare education. With their nursing credentials and experience working in a fast-paced healthcare setting, their knowledge and writing skills can address your target audience’s learning needs. Combining these qualities makes them play a vital role in delivering quality healthcare education.
In the realm of CEU development, nurse writers play a pivotal role. Healthcare professionals frequently turn to continuing education units (CEUs) developed by skilled nurse writers for the latest information on clinical practices and technological advances. Completion of CEUs can also satisfy specific license renewal requirements.
The benefits of nurse writers in CEU development are undeniable. The nursing profession is rooted in science and evidence-based practices. When clients require knowledgeable, engaging material, nurse writers are fiercely dedicated to producing accurate, well-researched content. Nurse writers understand the impact of their work in CEU development on clinical practice and patient care.
This article will discuss the benefits of hiring nurse writers to create CEU courses and why they are invaluable assets to the healthcare industry.
Benefits of Having Nurse Writers in CEU Development
An experienced nurse writer will possess credibility because of their clinical experience. As writers, nurses become proficient and reliable subject matter experts who can deliver well-structured, comprehensive CEUs. This crucial involvement of nurse writers in CEU development ensures that courses are not only informative but also aligned with current clinical standards.
With over four million nurses nationwide, nurses understand healthcare and other nurses. As colleagues, they can intimately identify gaps in patient care and educational opportunities. Most importantly, they can recognize the daily challenges healthcare professionals experience. A nurse writer’s expertise uniquely positions them to create meaningful CEU content by responding to real-time learning needs.
A nurse writer can provide specialized CEU content depending on their clinical background. For example, a registered nurse writer with psychiatric experience can give a client mental health courses.
Nurse writers are familiar with interpreting research. Nursing school and clinical practice teach nurses the importance of using scientific references or resources not older than five years. When correct and concise use of medical terminology is needed, nurse writers are the best choice. Not only can they use terminology correctly, but they can also teach and educate.
Nurses and other healthcare professionals are adaptable and always learning because healthcare changes quickly. It is no different when nurses pivot to become published nurse writers. As freelancers, they adapt much of their clinical knowledge and skills to writing. Nurses are adept communicators. They can easily interview other health professionals and quickly respond to clients when managing projects and deadlines.
How Can Nurse Writers Ensure Their CEU Courses are Engaging and Informative?
Due to the ever-changing nature of healthcare, CEU providers will always need new courses. Producing engaging lessons while educating a target audience is the primary goal.
When creating a CEU, consider what nurses value. Nurses want to add to their competencies and skill sets. They are interested in quality and safety guidelines to improve patient safety. Information that enhances the effectiveness of nursing care is also a priority. Nurses know that healthcare is constantly changing, and the information they learn in school may be limited or outdated. When CEU courses offer updated information, nurses can build their knowledge base and improve their practice. With their clinical background, nurse writers in CEU development are the perfect fit for this project with their subject matter authority.
CEUs tend to follow a specific structure, and nurses have learned to develop attention to detail. In clinical practice, details matter, as does time management. When writing CEU courses, nurse writers can follow the format provided by a client. Maintaining focus on the intended audience is a paramount objective.
CEU structure may vary slightly depending on the subject matter and client needs. After identifying the target audience, completing a needs analysis, learner objectives, and content overview, you can expect a CEU course to contain evidence-based main educational content, a case study, and knowledge tests.
Breaking content into sections by adding tables or diagrams helps with visual appeal. Tone can also change between clients, but an intelligent conversational approach helps keep the reader interested.
Role of Nurse Writers in CEU Development
CEUs should seek to inform the reader. We already mentioned potential educational needs based on common nursing priorities in the previous section.
There are currently thousands of CEU courses available online by accredited CEU providers. The topic categories are broad but contain many specific options.
CEUs commonly address concerns and disease conditions in areas such as the following:
- Pediatric nursing
- NICU nursing
- Critical care nursing
- Case management nursing
- Infectious disease
- Ambulatory nursing
- Home health nursing
- Psychiatric nursing
- Long-term care
- Women’s health nursing
As healthcare continues to evolve, the role of nurse writers in CEU development becomes ever more vital. These professionals ensure that CEU courses remain a valuable resource for ongoing education in the healthcare industry. The benefits of nurse writers in creating CEU courses are multiple. They have an intimate understanding of healthcare and their target audiences, communicate well, can follow detailed directions, and are, by nature, entrenched in evidence-based care.
If you are a nurse interested in becoming a freelance nurse writer, check out the Savvy Nurse Writer website and podcast. Janine Kelbach, RNC-OB, provides invaluable insight and actionable steps for nurses who want to grow a profitable freelance business. The program additionally offers a course leading to a nurse writer certification.
Write RN offers professional writing services with over 130+ RN and Nurse Practitioner writers ready to help meet your health content needs.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, March 9). Welcome to TCEO. https://tceols.cdc.gov/
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2022, September). Nursing Fact Sheet. https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-Information/fact-sheets/nursing-fact-sheet#:~:text=Nursing%20is%20the%20nation’s%20largest,84.1%25%20are%20employed%20in%20nursing.
About the Author
Wendy Sutas, BSN, RN
Wendy Sutas, BSN, RN, has over 25 years of experience in neonatal ICU, pediatrics, mother/baby, and utilization management. As the owner of Sutas Writing Solutions Co., she combines her solid clinical background with her writing skills to develop evidence-based health and wellness content for her clients. You can find her with her family and planning her next adventure in her free time.
