Can Nurses Really Get Paid to Write? (Yes! Here’s How to Start)

Alexandria Nyembwe
Aug 2
2 min read

When I first heard nurses were making money writing, it sounded like one of those "work from anywhere" gigs that felt too good to be true. But the more I looked into it, the more real it became.

Turns out, nurses (and other healthcare professionals and even non-healthcare professionals) are getting paid to write. Nurses are sought after by the healthcare industry, including in the health (medical) communications portion of healthcare. We know how to explain complex medical terms in plain language. We understand the healthcare system. We know what questions patients actually ask.

Freelance writing for nurses shows up in many ways. Some write health blogs for companies like Forbes Health or GoodRx. Others create patient education materials for hospitals and medical equipment suppliers. Some even write continuing education modules or ghostwrite for doctors.

And you don’t need a journalism degree to do this. You don’t even need thousands of Instagram followers. You just need to know how to communicate clearly and own what you say. Meaning, if you're going to leverage your license to write content, you should be sure this content is backed by science.

If you’re wondering how to start, try this: write a short article on a topic you know well, like managing blood pressure or tips for new moms. Post it on LinkedIn or Medium. That’s your first writing sample.

From there, you can build slowly—a few posts, a few pitches. These actions can even lead to a few clients. Writing is a real opportunity for nurses who want more options beyond the bedside.