Nurse writers and bloggers like myself have the incredible opportunity to make a positive impact in the healthcare industry. Drawing upon our expertise and personal experiences as nurses, we utilize our writing skills to create content that is both informative and engaging.
Through articles, blog posts, and other forms of written media, nurse writers strive to reach diverse audiences and provide them with valuable insights. Topics may span across a wide range, covering everything from patient care and health education to nursing techniques, career guidance, and beyond.
Whether we contribute to medical journals, collaborate with healthcare organizations, or maintain our own blogs, our goal is to deliver accurate and compelling content that empowers readers. As nurse writers, we act as advocates, shedding light on crucial healthcare issues, debunking myths, and offering evidence-based information to promote health and wellness.
By bridging the gap between healthcare professionals and the general public, we strive to make medical concepts more accessible and inspire individuals to take control of their own well-being.
Benifits of Nurse Writing & Blogging
One benefit of becoming a nurse blogger or freelance writer is that each post or article can be written from a unique perspective, as nurses work in so many different specialties with diverse patient populations. Also, nurses have different skill sets and experiences that they can bring to their writing.
Nurse writers have so much to share from many perspectives: their experiences in the field, research, health and wellness education, current issues and hot topics, success stories from patients or colleagues, community engagement initiatives, and more. As such, nurse bloggers can bring a valuable voice to the global conversation about healthcare.
Why Become A Nurse Writer?
Becoming a nurse writer has been a transformative and fulfilling journey for me, and I’d love to share why it’s such a rewarding path to take. First and foremost, being a nurse writer allows me to combine my passion for nursing with my love for writing. It’s an incredible opportunity to channel my knowledge and experience as a nurse into creating content that can positively impact others. Through my writing, I hope to educate, inspire, and advocate for patients, fellow nurses, and the healthcare community as a whole.
Another reason why I chose to become a nurse writer is the ability to reach a broader audience. While providing care at the bedside is incredibly meaningful, my words as a writer have the potential to reach countless individuals beyond the confines of a hospital room. Whether it’s through an article, blog post, or social media, I can connect with people from all walks of life, providing them with valuable information, insights, and support.
Lastly, as a nurse writer, I have the privilege of being part of a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. I can collaborate with fellow writers, healthcare organizations, and experts in various fields to create impactful content that truly makes a difference. It’s a constant source of inspiration and growth, as I continue to learn and expand my horizons within the realm of healthcare communication.
Perks of being a nurse writer or healthcare blogger.
Benefits of Becoming a Nurse Writer or Blogger
There are so many benefits of becoming a nurse writer or blogger that I don’t even know where to start!
More Opportunity
First and foremost, entering the world of nurse writing opens doors to a variety of professional opportunities beyond traditional bedside nursing. It allows you to diversify your skill set and explore new avenues within the healthcare industry.
You can pursue freelance writing, become a published author, work with healthcare organizations, or even start your own media company. I started this blog – mothernurselove.com – in 2016. In 2019, after writing over 100 blog posts, I started pitching various healthcare and nursing websites. It took me a while to get my footing, but after about two years, I had a steady stream of clients offering me consistent work every month and created my freelance writing website, SarahJividen.com.
From there, I started a new company called Health Writing Solutions, LLC. At the time, I figured I would stick with freelance healthcare writing. But then I had the urge to write about environmental issues and started another website called HeavenlyGreenHome.com (it is still in its infancy as I write this).
My head is spinning just talking about all this. But the moral of this story is that there are so many directions you can go. At the end of 2022, I decided to consolidate my freelance writing company and websites to form one singular company that encompassed all of my writing endeavors. Now all the websites are under one company name – Sarah Jividen Media, LLC.
Influence and Impact
Through your writing, you have the power to influence and make a positive impact on the nursing profession and healthcare as a whole. Your words can inspire fellow nurses, educate the public, and advocate for important healthcare issues. By sharing your experiences and expertise, you contribute to the advancement of nursing knowledge and improve patient care.
Personal and Professional Growth
Writing regularly as a nurse writer or blogger helps you grow personally and professionally. It encourages self-reflection, deepens your understanding of nursing concepts, and enhances critical thinking skills. As you delve into various topics and engage with readers, you continuously expand your knowledge base and become a more well-rounded healthcare professional.
By consistently producing high-quality content, you establish yourself as an expert in the field of nursing. This can lead to increased recognition and opportunities for collaboration, speaking engagements, and even consulting work. A strong professional brand can open doors to exciting career prospects and help you stand out in the competitive healthcare industry.
Networking and Connections
Engaging in the nurse writing and blogging community provides opportunities for networking and building connections with other professionals in the field. You can connect with fellow nurse writers, healthcare influencers, and industry experts. These connections can lead to collaborations, mentorship, and support, as well as broaden your professional network.
In summary, becoming a nurse writer or blogger offers benefits such as setting your own schedule, creative control, improving writing skills and critical thinking, expanding professional opportunities, influencing and impacting the nursing profession, personal and professional growth, building a professional brand, and networking with like-minded professionals. It’s a fulfilling and enriching path that allows you to make a difference while pursuing your passion for nursing and writing.
Here are a few other benefits I personally love about this profession:
I can set my own work hours and schedule (although I still work a lot!)
I have complete creative control over the content I write for my own websites
I now have better writing chops: each time I write a new piece, I continue to develop my writing skills.
The writing process helps me stop and think deeper. I find myself having more definite opinions about nursing topics that matter. I have discovered thoughts and ideas about the nursing profession I didn’t even know I had.
Last Thoughts
Nurse bloggers and freelance writers are creative entrepreneurs. Many often also have full-time positions and do their writing/website design in the evenings or on weekends. There is no set schedule; you can decide to work or not work whenever you want. It is important to note, however, that successful bloggers and freelance writers must work incredibly hard to get their businesses up and running, often for years, before making any money.
Best of luck on your writing path!
If starting a nursing blog is something that you are interested in, check out the following links:
*This post may contain affiliate links/ Updated from original post on 3/2019
I came up with this list of 101 interesting blog post ideas for nurses so that I could prove a point: there are so many things that nurses can write about. And I barely even scratched the surface with this list!
Nurses are lifelong learners.
Nurses generally love learning. If we didn’t, we would have never made it through nursing school in the first place.
To keep our skills up to par and our licenses current, nurses frequently take continuing education courses. Many of us go a step further and become certified experts in our nursing specialties.
Most importantly, being a nurse requires learning about changes in the field of medicine and being open to new challenges during every shift. Healthcare is ever-changing, and it is increasingly important for nurses to stay fresh.
Nurses have a unique perspective that we can share with readers.
This is the coolest part about becoming a nurse blogger: each post about nursing can be written about from a completely different perspective. There are so many different specialties and diverse patient populations. And every nurse has different skill sets and experiences within their career that they can share. Furthermore, some nurses can bring unique backgrounds into the mix, as many become nurses as a second or even third career.
In other words, nurses can bring a lot of life experience into their writing. We have valuable information to share.
Becoming a nurse blogger has welcome benefits.
First, you’ll become a better writer. Each time you create a new piece, you improve and continue to develop your writing skills.
Second, you’ll become a better thinker. The blogging process helps you to stop and think deeper. You will find yourself having stronger opinions about nurse topics that matter. You will discover thoughts and ideas about nursing that you didn’t even know you had.
I want to see more nurses blogging.
Since I began blogging in 2017, I have read nearly every nurse blog I can find on the internet. I have seen some pretty creative nurse niches and have been inspired by what my fellow nurse peers are writing about.
I especially love reading about the amazing things nurses are doing in the face of adversaries. For example, when I was just getting started, I read about how nurses in Paradise, California, continued to care for hospitalized patients during the most devastating fire in modern history. At one point, some were outside, trying to fight flames. Now, if that isn’t blog-worthy, then nothing is.
101 Interesting Blog Post Ideas For Nurses To Write About
I put a lot of effort into thinking of new topics that I would be interested in reading (or writing) about as a nurse. Don’t be surprised if you see several of these topics on my blog over the next year.
So, without further ado, here it is: 101 interesting blog post ideas for nurses. (If there is anything you think I should add, please leave a comment, and I will add it to my next list!)
Advice for getting through the first year as a nurse
(You need to know by now – if your goal IS to monetize your blog, you must invest in a few courses to help move you forward. Otherwise, blogging is a lonely, frustrating island.)
If you are a nurse or other healthcare blogger, I highly recommend starting with this one. Creators Brittany Wilson and Kati Kleber are both published, award-winning authors who are also considered the Godmothers in nurse blogging. They are especially great because they go into more detail about patient privacy concerns and other considerations that healthcare bloggers need to be aware of.
Nurse Blogging and Writing Frequently Asked Questions
Do nurse bloggers make money?
Yes, nurse bloggers can make money through various methods such as advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and selling their own products or services.
What do nurse bloggers do?
Nurse bloggers write about their experiences, provide tips and advice to other nurses or healthcare professionals, share their opinions on healthcare-related issues, and educate their readers about various health conditions or treatments.
How do I become a nursing blogger?
To become a nursing blogger, you need to have a passion for writing and sharing your experiences as a nurse or healthcare professional. Start by creating a blog and publishing your content regularly. You can also join online nursing communities, attend blogging conferences or webinars, and network with other nurse bloggers to learn from their experiences.
Is there a need for nurse writers?
Yes, there is a growing need for nurse writers who can provide valuable insights and information to healthcare professionals and the general public. With the increasing demand for healthcare-related content, nurse writers have a unique perspective to offer and can make a significant contribution to the field.
How do I start writing as a nurse?
To start writing as a nurse, you can begin by keeping a journal or blog where you write about your experiences and observations. You can also pitch your ideas to nursing or healthcare publications, start contributing to nursing blogs or forums, or volunteer to write for nursing associations or advocacy groups.
How to make 7 figures as a nurse?
Making seven figures as a nurse may be challenging, but it is possible through entrepreneurship, developing a unique product or service, or becoming a successful healthcare consultant. However, it is essential to have a solid business plan, develop excellent marketing skills, and continuously educate yourself on business and finance.
How can an RN make money from home?
There are various ways an RN can make money from home, such as telehealth nursing, medical transcription, case management, legal nurse consulting, freelance writing or editing, and starting a home-based healthcare business.
Can I be a nurse influencer?
Yes, you can be a nurse influencer by creating valuable content that resonates with your audience, building a strong social media presence, collaborating with other influencers, and developing partnerships with brands or companies in the healthcare industry.
How do I become a healthcare blogger?
To become a healthcare blogger, you can start by identifying your niche or area of expertise, creating a blog or website, and consistently publishing high-quality content that provides value to your readers. You can also join healthcare blogging communities, attend industry events or conferences, and network with other healthcare bloggers.
How do I monetize my healthcare blog?
To monetize your healthcare blog, you can explore various methods such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts or partnerships, selling digital products or services, display advertising, or offering coaching or consulting services. It’s essential to focus on providing value to your readers while developing a strategy that aligns with your blog’s goals and values
What are the best blog writing ideas for nurses?
There are many different blog writing ideas for nurses that can help to showcase their experiences and expertise in the healthcare industry. Here are some of the best blog writing ideas for nurses:
Personal experiences as a nurse, including stories about patient care and interactions with healthcare professionals.
Tips for nursing students, including study tips, advice for passing exams, and advice for succeeding in clinical rotations.
News and updates about the healthcare industry, including new treatments, technologies, and policy changes.
Information about specific health conditions, including causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
Advice for healthcare professionals on improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs.
Career advice for nurses, including how to advance in the nursing profession and tips for finding a job.
Opinions on current healthcare issues, such as healthcare reform and nursing shortages.
Inspiration and motivational stories for nurses, including stories about overcoming challenges and inspiring patients.
Reviews of nursing textbooks, medical apps, and other nursing resources.
Tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a nurse, including self-care strategies and stress management techniques.
By focusing on these blog writing ideas, nurses can create content that is both informative and engaging, helping to establish themselves as experts in the healthcare industry and build a loyal following of readers.
There are so many things I wish I knew before I became a nurse.
I remember when I first decided to go to nursing school. I was 31-years-old and struggling with the idea that I had spent nine years working in a career that I didn’t like.
In my former career life, I was a medical device salesperson. I had spent nearly a decade selling medical equipment to hospital operating rooms, traveling up and down the west coast, schmoozing with doctors and hospital purchasing managers so they would buy my stuff.
But even though my heart wasn’t passionate about my professional at the time, I was excited about working hard and performing well. So, each year, I met my professional goals and advanced in the profession. Which, in turn, also made it harder for me to leave.
But then one day, it hit me. I wanted to be an actual medical professional. I remember thinking how bored I was sitting on the sidelines as a device rep, watching procedures, and thinking, “this is SO lame, please shoot me!”
There are so many things I wish I knew before I became a nurse.
So (a few mental breakdowns later) I finally did it.
I signed up for the seven prerequisite science classes that I needed to take before I was even able to apply to nursing school (as a prior journalism major, I hadn’t taken very many science classes at that point).
I took my classes in the evenings after work. And I started studying to take the TEAS. It all took me about a year to complete, and in 2010 I started my journey to become a nurse.
The road has been arduous at times, but I am so glad I went to nursing school when I did. Yet it would have been nice to have a little more insight into what I was getting myself into. Here are eight things I wish I knew before becoming a nurse.
Eight things I wish I knew before becoming a nurse:
#1. Nursing school is crazy hard (and expensive)
Not only will you have daily classes, labs, weekly exams, and intense competition from classmates, but you will also be working hospital shifts as a student nurse. Many nursing programs also advise against outside work during the program because they warm that you won’t be able to keep up with the work. And in California (like many other states), hospitals will no longer hire nurses who don’t have a BSN. As a result, many nurses are graduating from nursing school with 50-100K or more in student loan debt.
#2. You will probably have to work night shifts, at least in the beginning
Nurses are needed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Since many nurses don’t want all night until 7:30 am, seniority is often the deciding factor when it comes to assigning nurses to the day shifts. Some hospital units even have a rule that new nurses must work night shifts for at least the first few years of being there. You will want to invest in a great set of blackout shades, at least one pair of blue blocker sunglasses, and a box of earplugs (so the guy mowing his lawn at 11 am doesn’t wake you up).
#3. Working three days a week as a nurse isn’t as easy as it sounds.
I remember thinking how awesome it would be only to have to work three days a week. I mean, come on, it’s only three days! But that also means that the days you do work are incredibly long. Nursing shifts at the hospital are usually 12 hours long. But they are more like 14-16 hours once you factor in oncoming nurse reports, overtime due to short-staffing, and your commute to and from work.
#4. You will be afraid that you might kill someone.
This one is a real fear because, for example, if a nurse makes a medication error or forgets to check vitals or a patient’s neuro status per order, then you accidentally could kill someone. But as you grow more tenured in your career, you develop a sixth sense for things that might go wrong, and you figure out how to triple check your work in the most time-crunched circumstances. And you learn how to assess your patients quickly enough that if there are any vital sign or neuro status changes, that you can get the help you need before things go downhill.
#5. You will learn to balance more information then you have ever had to before
There is no such thing as multitasking because our brains can’t focus on more than one thing at the same time. But nurses developed the uncanny ability to juggle multiple ongoing tasks for numerous patients for up to 12 hours a day – such as medical orders, patient requests, vital signs, medications, allergies to medicines, lab values, care plans, etc. We forget to eat and pee all day, but we remember the essential medical information we need to know for our patients. Being a nurse stretches your brain further than you ever thought it could go.
#6. Nurse abuse happens
Nurse against nurses is very common. Nurses tolerate levels of abuse that would NEVER be acceptable in any other professional setting. I have been cussed at a few times, in just about every colorful way you could imagine, for just doing my job.
If that’s not bad enough, chronic back pain in the nursing population is a common ailment. An evidenced-based review at the Texas Women’s University reported that estimates of chronic low back pain among nurses range from 50%-80%.
You may not be able to escape some of the wear and tear from being a nurse at the bedside. However, you can pick up healthy habits outside of the hospital like yoga, running, or weightlifting to help recuperate on your days off.
#8. You will find that there are multiple types of job opportunities away from the bedside
One thing that I Iove about being a nurse is that there are so many job opportunities away from the bedside. So even if you decide that beside nursing isn’t for you anymore, there are other nurse occupations to look into. Here are a few examples:
There are a whole lot of NEW nurse bloggers and influencers showing up in 2020.
Many nurses are doing more than just working at the bedside these days. In fact, there are a few taking the interweb by storm as nurse bloggers and healthcare writers.
But many of the best nurse bloggers I follow these days aren’t always necessarily writing about nursing, or even healthcare, for that matter. They have their own unique brands and personalities – and many intertwine both their personal and professional lives within their online businesses.
To make this list, the nurse influencer needed to also have their own self-hosted website in addition to their other social media handles. It’s wonderful to be an Instagram sensation, but it’s also important to have a home base (er, blog!) to call your home. (After all, that is the only platform out there that you can actually own).
Here were a few other things taken into consideration:
Interesting topic selection
Original content ideas (there is a lot of regurgitation out there!)
Has at least one self-hosted website to match their brand
Consistent publication
On multiple social media handles
Check out these amazing nurse bloggers you may not have heard of yet!
Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, is the founder and innovator at NewThingNurse.com. Her passion is to help nurses of all ages, specialties, and experience levels harness that power to accomplish their academic, professional, and personal goals through supportive coaching and advisement.
As part of her book of business, Sarah also offers social media consulting and 1:1 content writing coaching.
In addition, Sarah is a nationwide educational and motivational speaker on many subjects, including finding your first job as a new grad, keeping your nursing career fresh, workplace violence, mock code creation, RNs and social media use, and bridging generational gaps within the nursing profession.
Sarah is an emergency room nurse who, you guessed it, loves a farmer. She frequently writes about her life raising three little boys on their family farm while managing her career as a nurse.
Sarah’s niche topics include farming, home-cooked recipes, family life, all things motherhood, and photography. She is very active and has a large following on Instagram and Facebook.
In addition, she has contributed to the Huffington Post, Yummy Mummy Club, Parent-Tested Parent-Approved (PTPA) websites, as well as The Western Producer. She also previously wrote for Rocky Mountain Equipment’s internal newsletter and is a regular contributor to Grainews Magazine.
Nikki, an ICU nurse and yoga instructor, is the creator of Nurse Tribe, a website dedicated to helping nurses overcome burnout through yoga and meditation.
On her website, she teaches nurses how to stress less, stay fit and cultivate holistic wellness from within. She offers helpful guides for self-care goal setting and actionable videos to help improve the physical and mental health of nurses, both in and out of scrubs.
Damion Jenkins, RN, MSN, is the CEO of The Nurse Speak, a boutique nursing education and consulting company. He specializes in creating individualized consulting, mentoring, and tutoring services for nursing students, new graduate nurses, other healthcare program students, and healthcare-related companies.
Jenkins was also a speaker at the 2019 National Nurses in Business Association. He spoke about “building your brand identity from idea to reality.” So not only is he an interesting nurse influencer to follow, but he’s teaching other nurse creators to do the same.
Carol Bush, RN, BSN, is a self-described “crazy Memah” and woman of many talents: oncology RN, podcast host, writing coach, connector, healthcare writer, and entrepreneur.
As co-host of The Savvy Scribe Podcast, she provides business-building strategies, systems, and success stories for high-performing health writers to her students in The Savvy Scribe Tribe.
One thing that makes Carol especially unique is how she is encouraging many retiring nurses to take on “high-performing healthcare writing” as an encore career.
Janine Kelbach, a labor and delivery nurse of 13 years, is the creator of Write RN, a business platform for coaching nurses on how to become successful healthcare writers. She is also a co-host of the Savvy Scribe Podcast, where she provides business-building strategies, systems, and success stories for high-performing health writers to her students in The Savvy Scribe Tribe.
Kelbach started writing for different healthcare blogs and websites in 2012. Currently, Janine is currently writing articles and social media content for publishing companies and various clients, including Motherly, parenting websites, and online nursing magazines.
(You can find more of Janine’s work and janinekelbach.contenly.com).
Emma is a Clinical Nurse Specialist who works rotating shifts as an emergency room nurse, as well as a primary nurse blogger for their website, The Other Shift. Her husband, Dan, is the backbone of all things “techy” in the business.
Together, Emma and Dan created The Other Shift, a blog dedicated to helping shift workers manage sleep fatigue, find time for exercise, stay healthy, and find the right balance between ‘you time’ and managing relationships.
On their website, you can find helpful courses, survival guides, meal plans, and advice for nurses who want to find control in having an irregular schedule.
Sarah, BSN, RN, is an emergency room nurse, Urban Zen Integrative Therapist, healthcare writer, and blogger at MotherNurseLove.com. She also has a prior bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
After becoming a parent and finding that there was a lack of support for RN moms, Sarah created Mother Nurse Love, a resource that helps inspire the Nurse Mom to recognize their own self-care needs, provide useful nurse & mom lifestyle information, and thrive in both family and career.
Her writing has also been featured on other popular nurse sites, including Nurse.org, Very Well Health, Health.com, Everyday Health, and the Huffington Post.
Cat Golden, RN BSN, is a pediatric RN with a prior business degree and the creator of Nine Lives Health. Her website provides nurses with a centralized community of support and a variety of tools that provide structure to the nurse mindset.
She founded the LEAP LAND LIVE Method, a personalized mentorship program, to help nurses find routine and stability in what is normally the chaos of nursing.
In addition, Cat founded the #nursesinspirenurses movement to help nurses take control of their current work situations and inspire positive changes in the nursing profession by supporting one another.
Kate is an ICU nurse, mom, and enthusiastic foodie turned blogger at RealFoodRN.com. In her years of nursing, she found herself disappointed with a healthcare system that often pushes pills instead of focusing on disease prevention. This leads her to go back to school for holistic nutrition and learn to counsel people on how to live a better life through nutrition.
Not only does she blog regularly about delicious, healthy recipes, but she also started the Real Food RN Wellness Podcast, where she talks about all things healthy eating.
Kate has been featured in publications such as Nurse.org, Healthy Holistic Living, and Health Starts In The Kitchen.
Nurse Mike, Have Mursy
Michael Ward is an acute care nurse practitioner student, critical care nurse, keynote speaker, fitness enthusiast, dad to 5 boys, and creator of the blog HaveMursey.com.
As a self-proclaimed advocate for men in nursing, Mike states that his mission is to change the stigma associated with men in the profession. In addition to his blog where he writes about various nurse education and lifestyle topics, he has a very strong influencer following on Twitter.
K Chandler, a pediatric RN, goes by the name “The Traveling Nurse” and strives to motivate her readers to work hard and travel harder. On her website and blog, TheTravelingNurse.com, she strives to give back to others through donated medical supplies and sharing valuable nursing lifestyle information.
In addition to her globe-trotting as a travel nurse and on medical missions (most recently in Kenya!), she really shines as an Instagram influencer. Her gorgeous feed documents her amazing nursing care and highlights her travels around the world.
Anna M. Rodriguez, BSN, RN, CCRN, PCCN, is an experienced nurse all over the hosptial setting: medical/surgical, telemetry, cardiovascular ICU, nurse manager, and even travel nursing. She created her website TheBurnoutBook.com to highlight issues within the nursing profession, such as burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral distress.
As a nurse influencer, Anna is a blogger, conference speaker, and AACN ambassador. In addition, she is an Instagram favorite among many nurses, where she provides honest personal candor and inspiration for many nurses struggling within the nursing profession.
Amanda is an Ivy-league-educated nurse practitioner, twin mom, freelance writer, and content creator at TheResumeRX.com. She states on her website that superb grammar is her love language and has a passion for helping nurses create clean, modern resumes and cover letters that make a memorable first impression.
But she not only creates incredible nursing resume templates and provides courses to help nurses find their dream job – but she also manages to blog frequently on her website. Her content is original, inspiring, and actionable.
Her Instagram account is as clean and beautiful as her templates, and she has a large (and growing) following among nurses.
Lindsey is a nurse practitioner and yoga instructor with a passion for teaching nurses preventative holistic healthcare from the yoga mat. Her mission: to help nurses transform and live their best nurse lives.
She offers online programs, live programs and even does private coaching, all of which can be accessed from her website YogaHealthNurse.com. If you become a part of her email list, she has fantastic bi-weekly doses of yoga inspiration and offers a way to connect with a group of other like-minded nurse yogis (including many first-timers!)
In conclusion
I hope you enjoyed reading about these up-and-coming nurse influencers! If you haven’t already, take a moment to check out some of their websites. You may find a new nurse influencer that resonates with you and can help inspire you within your own personal and professional life!
Do you ever feel like you have something you need to share with the world? Maybe you have a few hidden talents or interests that you want to talk about. Or perhaps you feel burned out of your career and want a place to proactively vent your frustrations and find helpful solutions. Either way, you have ideas, and they need an outlet!
I get that. I’ve felt the same way for years.
Luckily we are in the age where we can express ourselves in many different ways through the interweb. And the technology just keeps getting better and faster. There has never been a better or easier time to utilize the internet for sharing valuable ideas.
I am a blogger and proud of it.
I follow many other website creators with whom I share the same interests. Mainly, other bloggers, nurses, and mothers I have a lot in common with and who I feel I can learn from. Over time I have found so many benefits of personal blogging, and I continue to find new ones as time goes by.
*Article contains affiliate links.
But first, let me tell you the story of how I discovered blogging.
After the birth of my first child in 2015, I found that it was increasingly more difficult for me to read books at home, as I was busy caring for a new infant. To get myself out of the house and get some exercise into my life, I started taking my daughter for two or sometimes 3-hour walks around the neighborhood. It felt good to be out of the house again. But I still missed my reading.
It was at that time that I discovered podcasts. I loved them because I could put on my earphones and get lost in interesting conversations that were occurring among adults. I was hooked! Each morning from then on, I walked my new baby and listened to 3, 4, 5, or even more podcast episodes. It felt fantastic to have more mental stimulation again, and I loved every minute of my long daily walks.
One day I started researching some of my favorite podcasters online. I found out that almost all of them also had a blog that corresponded closely with their podcasts. Up until then, I didn’t even know that blogging was a “thing.”
Not long after that, I caught the blogging bug myself. I started researching anything and everything I could get my hands on about how to create a successful blog. And the rest is blog history.
9 Benefits Of Personal Blogging in 2019
Reason #1: Blogging gives you a voice
When you own a blog, you get to say, share, and teach anything and everything you want to. You OWN the platform.
Your job as a blogger is to cultivate and find your inner voice. You have a unique opportunity to build a tribe of listeners. If your goal is to relate to your audience and provide value, then you need to speak honestly and from the heart about topics that you consider yourself very good at. In other words, your blog NEEDS a voice.
In the beginning, you may find that you aren’t sure what you want to say. So just start writing. Your first ten posts might suck (don’t let that scare you, everyone’s do!). But that is how you learn and excel. Over time, practice does make perfect!
One of the most beautiful things I have discovered about having a blog is that it has made me a WAY better communicator. I take my blog writing seriously, and I genuinely strive to be a valuable resource.
Find your voice, and you will find your audience. If you are blogging correctly, you will effectively create a voice for your blog that will exclude most people. This is a good thing! Because you can’t write for everyone and you shouldn’t try to. As a result, you will create a more loyal following of people with whom you share similar interests.
My voice is all about the RN and mom lifestyle. What will your voice be?
Reason #2: Blogging helps you organize your thoughts on paper
I mentioned earlier that as a beginning blogger, it is quite possible that your first ten or more blog posts might not be your best work. But if you keep at it, it won’t stay that way. You get better with practice. Swiftly.
Blogging makes you a better writer and a better thinker. Blogging makes people better conversationalists about the topics they write about.
Writing makes you a more critical thinker. Because when you write, you have to communicate thoughtfully and articulately. It forces you to think of several different aspects of a specific topic. Therefore, you have the opportunity to become an expert and tribe leader within your chosen writing niche. Most people just don’t put that much thought into a subject when they don’t have to organize it for other people to read on paper.
When you think about it that way, you have the potential to become smarter than the non-blogger. So start writing!
Reason #3. Blogging connects you with like-minded people
I have found that there is another world of other nerdy mom and nurse bloggers out there, just like me. They work all day and then pull their computers out after the kids go to bed. And like me, they burn the midnight oil and create exciting content by focusing their consciousness on things they are already good at. In time they become experts within their niche.
But, blogging can get lonely when you are sitting alone at your computer for hours. Which is another reason why it is good to connect with other bloggers within your niche. Connecting with other bloggers has helped me in so many ways:
Sharing helpful content from my blogger peers and vice versa
Learning how to blog better and faster
Forming relationships with other bloggers
I love it when readers leave me comments on blog posts. And I love responding even more. It tells me that I created a dialog that is worth having and that people are reading my posts! Readers also give me new ideas about things I want to write about in the future!
Reason #4. Blogging opens a world of opportunities
One of my favorite parts of being a blogger is that people and companies reach out to me with opportunities, instead of me reaching out to them! It has taken me a lot of work and time to get to this point, and I expect the opportunities to continue to grow with time. I have companies asking if I will guest post on their site or if they can put advertising on my website. I get emails almost every day, asking me to promote products. It is a lot of fun!
(I am learning how to be very selective about who I work with, though. It is essential only to do the things that are worth your time and politely decline the rest. And to be honest, I just don’t have a lot of time to work with many people at this time.)
Here are a few other examples of opportunities blogging has given me in the last year:
Guest posting opportunities
Guest podcast opportunities
Free products
Job offers
Higher paying affiliate offers
Here is the best part – you can blog from anywhere in the world you want to as long as you have internet access. Any time of the day or night, you can blog. It offers the ultimate flexibility.
Reason #5 Blogging helps others find information
My #1 goal is to provide value to readers. When people turn to Google to find niche-specific information, I want to be the first website they see (as long as it is genuinely answering a question or solving an issue that they are looking for). There are several ways that bloggers can provide value when discussing a particular topic:
Create a “How To” post
Make a checklist post. Lists automatically provide structure to your blog post and de-stress your reader.
Write a research-based blog post. As an RN, I live in a world where everything needs to be evidenced-based. If it’s not, then it may not be relevant or valuable. I often link back to Pub Med studies to give my posts more credibility.
Write an interview post. People love reading about people’s lives.
Reason #6. Blogging is an enormous challenge
To say that learning how to blog is a “challenge” would be an understatement. There are so many moving parts to managing a blog that it sometimes makes my head spin. But the harder it gets, the more I want to learn and grow as a blogger.
Blogging forces you to think in ways you haven’t considered before. Without challenge, there is no growth.
There are many benefits of personal blogging
Reason #7. Blogging can become a business
There are bloggers out there who make money. As a nurse, it seems that we are making less money each year, yet the cost of living continues to grow higher. For that reason, many nurses I know have a side hustle to supplement their income. That is one of the many reasons why I started blogging after my first daughter was born.
Blogging can be a hobby, a side hustle, or a full-time family business. But it takes a ton of effort, research, training, and determination to get it started and build momentum. I always say that blogging is a marathon, not a sprint (especially if you already work and have babies to take care of).
Reason #8. Blogging is fun
When I’m not blogging, I’m usually thinking about blogging, because I get such immense joy from it. I get frustrated when I have to stop blogging and go to bed so I can get some sleep!
Reason #9. Blogging gives you freedom
Blogging gives me the freedom to write and share information about anything I desire. Since I have a self-hosted website, I own my site. It is mine, and I can do with it whatever I please. When I am frustrated and burned out at work, this knowledge gives me a sense of peace. It has become an outlet that has ultimately helped me become a better nurse, writer, and thinker.
I also have the freedom to create my website however I desire, with my favorite colors and fonts.
Professional bloggers have the freedom to work anywhere they want in the world, so long as they have internet access. I know bloggers who work while on vacation, some even blog about their vacation!
Are you ready to start blogging? You can find more information about how to get starting on my blogging resource page!
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.
Starting a blog can be overwhelming, especially when you already work full time, are a parent to small children and have a to-do list that never seems to end. To make matters worse there is almost too much information on the internet about how to start a blog.
Where do I start? Who should I trust? How do I prevent myself from becoming overwhelmed with information?
And most importantly, how do I even find the time to start a blog when my schedule is already crazy busy?
The thing about blogging is that it is a marathon, NOT a sprint. It is also not a get rich fast (or maybe ever) scheme. It is a TON of work. So, if you are not considering it as a long term project then quite frankly I would strongly consider whether you want to start a blog in the first place.
But you are still reading this so I’m going to assume you really do want to start a blog . And I’m so glad. Because I love blogging and I love talking about blogging even more!
Here are a 5 important things to consider BEFORE starting a blog:
1. Find your niche
For me, this one was easy. I am very passionate about two things: nursing and motherhood. (And, well, my husband & other loved ones too, but for the sake of having a blog, you need to find YOUR specific niche that you can passionately write about).
Someone once told me this: “Before you start a blog you must find your niche. Then, take your niche and niche it down even more.” In essence, you need to get really super specific.
For example, if I just called myself a “nurse blogger” that doesn’t say very much about who I am or what my niche is about (except, of course, that I am one of 2.2 million other nurses in the US). It also doesn’t tell you anything about how I might be able to add any value to a reader. It’s just too vague.
Instead I am a “nurse mom lifestyle blogger who helps other nurses take better care of themselves with an emphasis on self-care.” I like to think of myself as a nurse advocate. That sounds a little better, doesn’t it?
It seems counter-intuitive that niche-ing down helps bloggers perform better but it really does. It increases your engagement with a very specific group and you have the opportunity to be an expert in a small area. You just can’t be everything to everyone, and you can’t be an expert at everything.
2. What will your name be?
Many bloggers want their name to reflect their niche. I’ll use myself as an example again: my blog name is Mother Nurse Love and my niche is nurse moms and self love. Pretty self explanatory.
But it doesn’t have to be that way if you don’t want it to. Your name can be anything you want it to be (although it might be a little more interesting if you are able to have a little story behind it!).
It is, however, important to put a lot of consideration into your name for the following reasons:
Your blog name is going to be with you for a long time. You will be known for it.
It is difficult (but not impossible) to change it later on down the line.
Bloggers generally use their blog names for their social media handles as well. Again, this just makes it harder for you to re-brand in the future (so start with the right name!)
Just make sure your name is not offensive or is sending a message that does not reflect you well.
(In the book The Nurses Guide To Blogging, co-author Kati Klieber, talks about how when she first started out her blogging name was Nurse Eye Roll. While many RN’s can relate to Nurse Eye Roll as a funny title, when she started getting more popular in the blogging world she became concerned that her blog name was sending the wrong message to brands and followers. She ultimately had to do a complete re-brand and changed her name to FreshRN. She is now more popular than ever the nurse blogging community, but I’m sure it was a huge pain in the butt at the time.)
A word of advice: I strongly suggest that you figure out what your blog name will be BEFORE setting up a WordPress blog with Bluehost.
3. What is your end goal with your blog?
Do you want a hobby blog? Or are you trying to start a side hustle/business? You don’t have to make this decision right away, but it’s something to keep in mind, especially if you are planning on growing an email list and monetizing your blog at some point.
First things first though. You need to starting writing blog posts. A lot of them. And they need to be good.
By now you have probably heard the phrase “content is king.” Well, frankly, it is. And if your end goal is to have a growing, thriving blog, then your writing and your voice need to be honed in nicely.
After you have a functioning website up and running then it might be a good time to start expanding your reach.
If your end goal is lots of website traffic you need to start with Pinterest AND focus on Search Engine Optimization
Pinterest will get you page views faster – but great SEO will rank you higher in Google searches and is great for the long haul. Right now I focus on both to grow my website traffic.
You may not know this, but Pinterest is NOT a social media platform. Its a visual search engine. It has changed tremendously over the last year and continues to have algorithm updates almost weekly (or so it seems!) Mastering Pinterest takes a lot of work and if you want more traffic sooner then you need to invest in a course.
Here is a great resource for you understand and better utilize Pinterest: a blogger colleague of mine, Megan Johnson, created Pinterest Ninja to help people increase their blog pages views by the thousands. I did the course when I was on maternity leave and have been able to increase my page views from 0 to 500-1000/day within a few months. Seriously, read some of her reviews.
Know this- if your goal IS to monetize your blog you will need to invest in a few courses to help move you forward. Otherwise, blogging is a lonely, frustrating island.)
4. How much time will you be able to dedicate?
Most adults have a full time job and/or kids that they need to manage before they can put work time into blogging. So as much as we intend to dive right into writing 7 posts a week, for many of us that is just not realistic.
I am a mother of 2 very small children, a nurse working 12 hour shifts, a wife and a homemaker. So, like most other working women bloggers, I’m super freaking busy 99% of the time. However, through practicing hyper-vigilant time management and forgoing a little shut eye at night I am managing to squeeze 5-10 hours into my blog every week. And I am still able to produce some decent and valuable content on a fairly consistent basis.
Eventually, my children with be in school and at that time I will be able to dedicate more time to content creation and website management. But for now I am still making an impact and earning a little money every day.
Try making a tentative blogging schedule for yourself and stick to it. Like I mentioned before, blogging is a marathon, not a sprint and it takes time to grow. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying or trying to sell you something.
5. Are you OK with being vulnerable?
When I first started blogging it took me a week to write my first posts. The reason it took me so long was that I kept going back and censoring my post from its original content. Mostly I was afraid of offending someone. I kept thinking “what if they leave a negative comment on my site?
It took me a few months to stop being so hard on myself. After all, this is my blog, I own it, and therefore I am allowed to talk about whatever I want. If someone has something negative to say, so what? Besides, aren’t I trying to start a dialog for nurse moms?
(A blogging collage once shared some encouraging words: she said “you’ll know when your really doing well with your blog when you get a nasty comment on your site. That’s when the trolls start to find you.” Wise words.)
Vulnerability can be powerful for a new blogger. Once you decide that you are going to be authentic with your writing you actually gain momentum with your messaging. You allow your writing to be more creative and natural. It’s an inspired feeling and your readers will appreciate getting to know you better.
(A few final thoughts to mention before hitting publish: Are you hurting anyone or belittling a person or community? Words are powerful so use them to create positivity and to help find solutions to problems. Create value. Spread the love.)
Here are a few more posts you may be interested in reading!
You need to know by now – if your goal IS to monetize your blog you must invest in a few courses to help move you forward. Otherwise, blogging is a lonely, frustrating island.
Nurse Blogging 101: Healthcare Media Academy – If you are a nurse or other healthcare blogger, I highly recommend starting with this one. Creators Brittany Wilson and Kati Kleber are both published, award-winning authors who are also considered the Godmothers in nurse blogging. They are especially great because they go into more detail about patient privacy concerns and other considerations that healthcare bloggers need to be aware of.
Pinterest Ninja: If you want to understand how Pinterest can grow blog traffic you need this Pinterest Ninja Course. A blogger colleague of mine, Megan Johnson, created Pinterest Ninja to help people increase their blog pages views by the thousands. I did the course when I was on maternity leave and I was able to increase my blog traffic exponentially in just over one month. Seriously, read some of her reviews. Her course is invaluable.
Perks of being a nurse writer or healthcare blogger.
