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.
As s a nurse I have been exposed to so many stressful situations. I’ve been cussed at by angry patients (more times then I can count), swung at, kicked, had a full urinal thrown at me, been exposed to, been in the middle of dozens of violent patient situations and take-downs, and been the victim of nurse bullying.
In addition, I see other nurses being treated poorly from patients, family members, doctors and even sometimes other nurses. In fact, it’s not even unusual. And, like other nurses, I am expected to continue giving compassionate patient care without regard to my own well being.
This sacrificial attitude of putting myself last on a very long spectrum of compassionate care is just not going to cut it anymore. The thought of spending an entire career with this amount of wear-and-tear is frightening. Something has to give before I completely fizzle and burn to a crisp.
Nurses need to have compassion for themselves too.
I came out of nursing school with equal parts compassion and adrenaline to save lives and make a positive difference in the world! In fact, I left a very lucrative 10 year medical equipment sales career so I could do just that. I was determined to advocate for and serve my patients to the best of my ability. Compassion was one of my greatest strengths.
As an overachiever for most of my life I have always maintained the attitude that I can do anything as long as I try hard enough. And now, after 7 years as a registered nurse, I am discovering that I am failing at the one thing that actually defines a great nurse: compassion.
The nurse burnout is real.
What I am currently experiencing is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that is more extreme than anything that I have ever experienced in my adult life. I started my nursing career with the determination to give amazing patient care and here I am, 7 years later, losing my compassion.
(And just so you know – this has been hard for me to acknowledge because I have been a “yes” person my entire life.)
There is beauty in the breakdown.
My nursing burnout amplified after the birth of my first child in 2015. Then, it got even worse after my second child in 2018. In fact, I started writing regularly again out of desperation to find an outlet for the exhaustion and overwhelming fatigue I was feeling as a nurse and new mom. My goal was to find more effective ways to take better care of myself and make my life a little easier. And it actually has helped me find a little reprieve.
But most importantly, it has opened my eyes to the fact that I need to make some huge changes in my life. Most of all, I need to find my compassion again. But this time I am unapologetically focusing my compassion on myself, first.
So, in light of this discovery, I am 100% accepting and honoring these uncomfortable feelings. I am using them as a catalyst to make changes in my professional and personal life. My mental and physical pain will be an opportunity for growth and finding self-compassion.
I rarely take the time to do nothing and reflect. This is a good year for more of that.
I am on a mission for self-compassion.
You know how when you fly in an airplane, there is the safety warning before take-off? Passengers are instructed to put the oxygen mask on themselves first, then help others around them. Because if you pass out from lack of oxygen, you’re not helpful to anyone!
So, here is me putting the oxygen mask on myself first. Some of the changes I am making are professional and some are personal. But they are all things I have been wanting to do for a really long time but haven’t because I was thinking about others’ needs before my own.
Here are my new personal nurse self-care and self-compassion goals:
#1. Work two 12 hour shifts a week instead of three
This one is hard for me because it equates to a significant decrease in pay (and I really like money!). With two toddler age children, child care is our biggest expense (besides housing) and it’s not going away any time soon. But fortunately, we are in a position to afford it for the time being and I want to use the extra day off to spend more one-on-one time with my adorable babies.
In addition, since most hospital shifts are 12 to 13 hours I don’t get to see my children at all on the days that I work. I am also staying away from working back-to-back shifts because I just don’t want to be away from my children for more than one day at a time.
#2. Work fewer holidays and as few weekends as possible
After I had children I really hated having to work on holidays. I have missed so many birthdays, Easters, 4th of Julys, Thanksgivings, Christmas and New Years to be working at the hospital. At some point, I started to resent missing that time with my family. Working on holidays is the norm for many nurses, and I expect to work some. But since I will be working a little less anyway this will also equate to working fewer holidays as well. The same goes for weekends.
Self Care for nurses is more important now than ever.
#3. Continue working per diem
There are a lot of benefits and drawbacks to being a per diem nurse. For example, I love that I can schedule myself to work on the exact days I WANT to work. However, it also means that if I am not needed then I get canceled at 0400 and then I don’t make any money for that day. And since I end up paying for a nanny regardless, that’s a double whammy.
The best part of being a per diem nurse is that it offers me a much better work-life balance. When I worked as a career nurse it was almost impossible for me to secure childcare because my work schedule was always changing. Some weeks I got the schedule I needed and others I didn’t. So on the whole, being a per diem nurse is the right choice for me and my family.
#4. Continue writing and growing my website to help other nurse moms
In 2016 I became a nurse blogger. My venture was born out of my frustration with burnout as a registered nurse and my desire to create a more flexible work-life balance. Writing about nurse lifestyle topics that interest me and exploring ways that nurses can take better care of themselves helps me to take care of myself better too.
My little blog is even starting to make a small monthly income, which absolutely thrills me. I have a dream that if I keep working hard my website will make enough money that I can work one day a week instead of two.
#5. Take a comprehensive course in website management and blogging
Last week I signed up for a comprehensive blogging course that will probably take me the next 6-8 months to complete. I honestly haven’t been more excited to do something for myself like this in a really long time. In fact, I can’t wait to see my progress over the next year!
#6. Explore other medical-related career options
A few weeks ago I interviewed for an aesthetic sales position. Although I didn’t end up working for the company, it did open my eyes to the fact that there are so many other great opportunities that I could be interested in and also fit my skill set as a nurse. A nursing practice can take many forms and I am giving myself permission to continue learning about other nursing career options.
#7. Focus more energy into my family and friends
One of my New Years resolutions this year was to “choose fun.” So many studies have shown that spending quality time with family and friends is incredibly helpful in decreasing stress and improving burnout symptoms. Since I will be working a little less I will have more time to focus my energy on the people who matter most to me.
#8. Enjoy my new fancy gym membership (with childcare on site!)
In the spirit of investing more in myself, I started 2019 off with a gym membership. It has been a complete game-changer for me. In fact, the old me would never have never splurged on a fancy gym membership. Making regular time to work out always makes me feel great, clears my head and gives me more stamina. And my 1 year old loves the Kid’s Club, so it’s a win-win.
As a nurse and mom, my life basically revolves around caring for everyone else, and I am SO GRATEFUL to be able to do that. But if there is one thing I have learned through my own compassion fatigue it is that I need to put the same care into myself as I do into my patients and family. So in the spirit of self-compassion, I am metaphorically putting on my oxygen mask first, before helping those around me.
#9. Practice more yoga
I have been regularly practicing yoga for 14 years. Finally, in 2o15 I completed Yoga Works’ 4 month Urban Zen Integrative Therapy program for medical professionals. I learned how to teach simple yoga, do guided meditation and perform Reiki. It was amazing!
However, in recent years I have not been practicing as much as I would like, and that is going to change. My goal is to incorporate yoga into my busy schedule every single day. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Yoga helps me stay balanced in times of great stress, gives me flexibility (both physically and mentally) and has been extremely grounding. In fact, I recently started teaching my 3-year-old daughter a series of yoga poses and it is bringing us both great joy!
These two are already happy about self-care goal #1: Work two 12 hour shifts a week instead of three. Job flexibility has never been so important to me.
In conclusion
Nurse self-care matters. If we don’t care for ourselves then how can we expect patients to listen to our health advice and education? I am taking this opportunity to give myself compassion and hopefully lead others by example.
If other nurses find themselves feeling as unappreciated and burnt out as me I encourage them to find ways to care for themselves first. Otherwise, we are perpetuating a broken system that does not acknowledge that nursing burnout is a real issue and ignoring nurse health and well being.
So nurse, what are you going to do to take care of yourself today? Leave a comment!
I have a confession. My biggest nursing career fear is working for an hourly wage as a floor nurse forever.
Of course, there are other things I fear in my nursing career as well. Such as staying burned out working 12’s hour shifts, physically being unable to work after decades of wear-and-tear, and not reaching my full career potential.
But the one thing that really keeps me up at night is the idea of not creating a future for myself that has flexibility, freedom, opportunity, and more money. I have ambition, dammit. And it’s about time for a big change.
In order for me to make career decisions that will help me reach my fullest nursing career potential moving forward, I thought it was wise to revisit my career history. What inspired and motivated me in the past? Where are my strengths and weaknesses? What are my biggest priorities from here moving forward and how do I reach them?
So, (deep breath) here we go…
I was once an aspiring writer in college.
Way, way back in the day, before I ever even considered becoming a registered nurse, I was a journalism major with a minor in women’s studies. I wrote for our student newspaper, The Orion, and I loved it. I enjoyed the teamwork and even though I felt way in over my head a lot of the time I absolutely loved the challenge.
But then I graduated with a little debt and decided I was tired of being a poor college student. I wanted the money! After looking at a few options and going on about 50 intense interviews I finally got my first job as a medical device salesperson.
Reflective takeaway: I have experience working for an award-winning college newspaper. I enjoyed the challenge and the teamwork aspect.
They say hindsight is 20/20. Can a deep dive into my career history inspire my future career as a nurse?
In my first career, I sold medical devices to hospital operating rooms.
I spent the next decade working in the competitive field of surgical equipment sales for a Fortune 100 company and a few medical device startups. It was intense and I did very well, but there was always a feeling that I could be doing something even more important. My soul was craving more clinical education and critical thinking. I remember thinking to myself “I don’t want to work my whole career just being a salesperson!” I needed a bigger purpose.
So after years of soul searching, I made the difficult decision to leave the field in pursuit of greater clinical medical knowledge. I went back to school and achieved a BS in Nursing.
Reflective takeaway: I have many valuable professional skills that I can apply to other careers. And I’m hyper-competitive.
I became a second-career nurse.
I began my career specializing in a Neuroscience and Stroke unit and earned certifications as a Stroke Certified Registered Nurse and Public Health Nurse. In 2017, I began a new phase in my nursing career as an Emergency Room RN.
I love that I help others for a living and I enjoy the mental stimulation I get at work during my 12-hour shifts. Becoming a nurse has even helped me deal with the craziness of motherhood in some ways because it helps me distinguish things that I should be concerned with things that are not a big deal. (I have my time on a neuroscience floor and as an ER nurse to thank for that!)
However, the physical wear-and-tear and caregiver fatigue has got me feeling completely spent at times. And upper-management within the hospital is not something I am interested in at all.
Reflective takeaway: I enjoy using my clinical expertise to help others. But I also need to make my own health needs a priority.
I want to be a working mom who makes my own rules. Having children changes everything.
Starting a family intensified my biggest nursing career fear: a lifetime of working 12-hour shifts at the hospital
Having children really does change everything. I am grateful for all of the amazing experiences I have had in nursing. However, I see the future through a different lens now. My husband and I are currently raising two toddlers and my priorities are forever changed. My purpose for success was so completely different. Now my reason for success is my family.
And so, here I am seven years into my nursing career and I have this gnawing sensation that I need to “blow up” my career again. It is time to make room for more professional growth and development.
As a part of this process I made a list of my future career priorities:
Cerebral stimulation
Being a positive role model for my children
Freedom
Flexibly
Money
Reflective takeaway: Becoming a parent changed my career priorities and needs. Work-life balance is key.
Next (baby) steps…
In 2016 I created a nurse mom blog called MotherNurseLove.com. In the sparse amount of free time I have, I am creating a website, writing blog posts and taking courses to hone in on my new craft. My venture is being crafted out of my love for writing, my business management experience, my clinical knowledge as a nurse and life experience as a mother. I am creating my own opportunity that is more in line with my current career priorities (as mentioned above).
For clarity, my niche (or at least the niche I am striving to create) is: “nurse mom lifestyle blogger with an emphasis on nurse self-care” My goal is to write about nurse mom lifestyle topics that interest me and finding helpful ways for nurses to take better care of themselves.
In conclusion
Turning my nursing career fear into a catalyst for growth is a process. As I grow older (and hopefully wiser!) I am discovering that there are so many paths that nurses can take. The sky is the limit as long as I work hard and continually open myself to learning new skills.
My ultimate goal: To create a career for myself where I can combine my journalism degree with my nursing knowledge and motherly experience. This is the first “career” I have ever had where I didn’t have to fill out an extensive application and interview for the position. For the very first time, I am warming to the idea of being my OWN boss. And I’m really looking forward to what the future will hold.
I hope you enjoyed this post. If you are a nurse who is looking for alternative career options or wants to find ways to take better care of yourself as a working mom and RN please join my email list below!
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.
