Nurse Writer Career Overview
What Is a Nurse Writer?
A nurse writer applies clinical knowledge and experience to the creation of content related to nursing, medicine, and healthcare to serve various purposes. Nurse writers may also be referred to as medical writers, healthcare writers, and medical or healthcare communicators.
The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) defines medical communication as “the development and production of materials that deal specifically with medicine or health care” and notes that professional medical communicators “write, edit, or develop materials about medicine and health.”
“They do this by gathering, organizing, interpreting, and presenting information in a manner appropriate for the target audience,” AMWA says. “Professional medical communicators have communication expertise, awareness of ethical standards, and health care knowledge.”
It should be noted that although AMWA members may be nurses, they are also professionals with a variety of other healthcare and related backgrounds — and many have advanced degrees. For the purpose of this guide, the career overview for a nurse writer will largely be provided within a professional medical communicator framework to align with AMWA descriptions and resources.
What Does a Nurse Writer Do?
Most nurse writers are registered nurses (RNs) who have acquired clinical expertise by working in various healthcare settings. The nurse writer’s credentials and experience — as well the needs of the employer or client for whom the content is being created — influences the type of medical writing involved.
AMWA says medical writing involves “the development and production of print or digital documents that deal specifically with medicine or health care. …”
“With the constant advancement and innovation in medicine and health care, the need to communicate about research findings, products, devices, and services is growing,” AMWA says. “Medical writers are increasingly in demand to convey new information to health care professionals as well as the general public.”
“Medical communicators may be writers, editors, health care journalists, supervisors, project managers, media relations specialists, educators, and more,” the organization notes. “At their core, they are exceptionally skilled at gathering, organizing, interpreting, evaluating, and presenting often complex information to health care professionals, a public audience, or industry professionals…”
AMWA also lists the wide variety of content types that medical writers may be involved in creating. Examples include:
- Abstracts for medical journals and medical conferences
- Advertisements for pharmaceuticals, devices, and other products
- Advisory board summaries
- Continuing medical education materials
- Decision aids for patients
- Grant proposals
- Healthcare policy documents
- Health education materials
- Magazine and newspaper articles
- Medical and healthcare books
- Medical and scientific journal articles
- Marketing materials
- Poster presentations for medical conferences
- Regulatory documents, including FDA submissions
- Sales training
- Slide presentations for medical conferences
- White papers
Where Do Nurse Writers Work?
Many nurse writers are freelancers who work for themselves providing healthcare content services for clients. However, others may work for organizations that require the ongoing creation of healthcare content for various purposes.
AMWA describes some of the employment possibilities.
“Medical writers can find positions with a variety of employers, reaching a multitude of audiences with different communication needs and styles,” the organization says, noting that employers may include:
- Associations and professional healthcare societies
- Authors or investigators
- Biotechnology companies
- Clinical or contract research organizations (CROs)
- Communications, marketing, or advertising agencies
- Government agencies
- Healthcare organizations or providers
- Medical book publishers
- Medical device companies
- Medical education companies
- Medical schools or universities
- News outlets for health/medical news
- Peer-reviewed medical journals
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Trade journals for healthcare professionals
Of course, employers may have varying requirements in terms of the education, experience, and credentials needed for specific roles.
How Much Does a Nurse Writer Make Per Year?
There are many factors that influence the annual salary for a nurse writer. According to AMWA, “Medical writer salaries vary from city to city and region to region. Compensation also depends on the writer’s experience, the type of employer, and the type of work.”
Since the salary ranges for medical writers can vary widely, the following is a sampling of potential annual salaries from various sources.
As of May 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides the following mean annual wage estimates:
AMWA cites several salary-reporting sites, which indicate that “a salary range for a junior-level or beginning medical writer is $52,000 to $80,000 annually and a salary range for a junior-level or beginning medical editor as $57,000 to $75,000 annually.”
Here are the sites referenced:
- Salary.com: “The average Medical Writer I salary in the United States is $68,899 as of May 25, 2023, but the range typically falls between $57,292 and $76,505. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, [and] the number of years you have spent in your profession.”
- Payscale.com: “The average salary for a Medical Writer is $78,723 in 2023.”
- Glassdoor.com : “The estimated total pay for a Medical Writer is $87,407 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $82,533 per year” (as of September 15, 2022).
How Do I Become a Nurse Writer?
The path to becoming a nurse writer begins with becoming a nurse. Although some nurse writers may be licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), most nurse writers are registered nurses. As such, they must attend an accredited nursing program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
RNs must also be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure can be obtained by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and meeting any additional requirements of the state’s board of nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers a resource to determine state-based nursing licensure requirements.
A nurse writer can also obtain specialty certification by meeting eligibility requirements and taking the exam to obtain the Medical Writer Certified (MWC®) credential.
“The Medical Writing Certification Commission (MWCC), in collaboration with the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), has developed the Medical Writer Certified (MWC®) credential that defines the scope of medical writing practice and distinguishes individuals in the field,” AMWA says. “The MWC credentialing program is a rigorous, exam-based professional certification. Professionals who hold this credential have demonstrated their understanding of medical writing core competencies.”
What Are the Benefits of Being a Nurse Writer?
There are many benefits to being a nurse writer, including the ability to apply one’s education, experience, and expertise to:
- Help healthcare consumers access the accurate information they need
- Create valuable educational resources for busy clinicians
- Help clients and employers achieve business results through the creation of high-quality content
- Remain involved in the healthcare industry beyond the clinical setting
On a personal note, I have to say that one of the greatest benefits of being a freelance nurse writer has been the freedom and autonomy I’ve enjoyed over the years. It has allowed me to work from home — or anywhere — and focus on the priorities that are important to me. This was especially true during the season when I was blessed to get to care for my sweet mom in her final years.
Of course, freelancing isn’t for everyone, and there are many types of opportunities available for nurse writers. But, the bottom line is that if you love nursing, enjoy healthcare topics, and have a knack for working with words — becoming a nurse writer may be something to consider.
Additional Resources About Becoming a Nurse Writer
To learn more about becoming a nurse writer, this list of related associations from AMWA may help:
