technical writing in nursing

The Role of a Technical Writer in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Guide

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Technical writers play a crucial role in the healthcare industry by bridging the gap between medical professionals and patients. They possess a unique skill set that allows them to effectively communicate complex medical information in a way that is understandable and accessible to a wide range of audiences. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the key responsibilities of a healthcare technical writer, the essential skills required for this role, and the impact their work has on the healthcare sector . We will also delve into the process of becoming a healthcare technical writer , discussing the educational requirements, gaining relevant experience, and the importance of continuous learning and development.

Understanding the role of a technical writer in healthcare

Before we embark on exploring the world of healthcare technical writing, it is essential to understand the role itself. Technical writing in the healthcare sector can be defined as the process of creating clear, concise, and accurate documentation that aids in the understanding and dissemination of medical information. It involves translating complex medical jargon into plain language that patients, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders can easily comprehend.

Now let's take a closer look at the key responsibilities of a healthcare technical writer.

Defining technical writing in the healthcare sector

Technical writing in the healthcare sector encompasses a diverse range of tasks. These may include creating user manuals for medical devices , developing patient education materials , documenting clinical procedures , and writing research articles for medical journals. A healthcare technical writer must have a deep understanding of medical concepts and terminology to accurately convey information to different audiences.

Let's delve into the world of user manuals for medical devices. These manuals play a crucial role in ensuring that patients and healthcare professionals can effectively and safely use medical devices. A healthcare technical writer meticulously examines the device's functionality, operation, and safety measures to create comprehensive user manuals. They carefully craft step-by-step instructions, complete with illustrations, to guide users through the proper usage and maintenance of the device.

Key responsibilities of a healthcare technical writer

One of the primary responsibilities of a healthcare technical writer is to ensure that information is presented in a clear and concise manner. They must research and gather information from various sources, including medical professionals, research papers, and clinical trials, and then organize and synthesize this information into easily understandable content.

Moreover, healthcare technical writers are often involved in developing patient education materials. These materials aim to empower patients with knowledge about their health conditions, treatment options, and preventive measures. A healthcare technical writer collaborates with healthcare professionals to create patient-friendly materials that are accessible, informative, and tailored to the specific needs of the patients.

Additionally, healthcare technical writers might collaborate with subject matter experts, such as doctors or nurses, to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content they produce. They must also pay attention to the target audience, considering their educational background, cultural differences, and health literacy levels when creating materials.

Essential skills for a healthcare technical writer

A healthcare technical writer possesses a unique set of skills that are essential to excel in this field. Let's explore some of the key skills that are highly valued in healthcare technical writers.

Medical knowledge and understanding

To effectively communicate medical information, a healthcare technical writer must have a solid foundation of medical knowledge. This includes an understanding of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology. Having a grasp of medical concepts allows the writer to accurately interpret and translate complex information for a variety of audiences.

Exceptional writing and communication skills

Strong writing skills are vital for healthcare technical writers. They must be able to write clearly, concisely, and without ambiguity. The ability to communicate complex information in a simple and engaging manner is crucial to ensuring that patients and healthcare professionals can easily understand the content.

In addition to writing skills, effective communication skills are also essential. Healthcare technical writers often collaborate with subject matter experts and need to be able to ask meaningful questions and actively listen to ensure accuracy in their work.

Ability to translate complex information

One of the primary tasks of a healthcare technical writer is to translate complex medical information into easily understandable content. They must have the ability to break down complex processes, procedures, and concepts into simple terms that the target audience can comprehend.

Furthermore, healthcare technical writers should use effective visual aids, such as diagrams, illustrations, and infographics, to enhance understanding and engagement with the content.

Moreover, a healthcare technical writer should possess excellent research skills. They need to be able to gather information from various sources, including medical journals, research papers, and clinical trials. This enables them to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in healthcare and accurately incorporate this knowledge into their writing.

Additionally, attention to detail is a crucial skill for healthcare technical writers. They must meticulously review their work to ensure accuracy and consistency. This includes checking for spelling and grammatical errors, as well as verifying the correctness of medical terminology and references.

Furthermore, a healthcare technical writer should have a strong sense of empathy. They need to understand the needs and concerns of the target audience, whether it be patients, healthcare professionals, or regulatory bodies. By empathizing with their audience, the writer can tailor their content to address specific concerns and provide valuable information.

The impact of technical writing on healthcare

The work of healthcare technical writers has a significant impact on the healthcare sector. Let's explore some of the ways in which their work enhances patient understanding and care, supports healthcare professionals, and contributes to healthcare innovation.

Enhancing patient understanding and care

Clear, well-written patient education materials are crucial in empowering patients to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Healthcare technical writers create materials that explain medical conditions, treatment options, and medication instructions in a way that patients can easily understand. By providing accessible information, patients are better equipped to actively participate in their own care and make educated decisions with their healthcare providers.

For example, imagine a patient diagnosed with a chronic condition. Through the expertise of healthcare technical writers, they receive a comprehensive booklet that not only explains the condition but also provides practical tips on managing symptoms, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and accessing support networks. This additional information empowers the patient to take control of their health, leading to improved self-management and overall well-being.

Supporting healthcare professionals

Healthcare technical writers also play a critical role in supporting healthcare professionals. They create documentation that helps healthcare providers understand the proper use and maintenance of medical devices and equipment. Clear and concise documentation enables healthcare professionals to deliver care efficiently and effectively, reducing the risk of errors and improving patient outcomes.

Moreover, healthcare technical writers collaborate with healthcare professionals to document clinical procedures and protocols. This ensures that standardized approaches are followed, leading to consistent and high-quality care being delivered across healthcare settings. By providing detailed guidelines and instructions, technical writers contribute to the seamless coordination of healthcare teams, ultimately enhancing patient safety and satisfaction.

Contributing to healthcare innovation

Healthcare technical writers are instrumental in the dissemination of research findings, clinical trials, and cutting-edge medical advancements. By creating research articles, white papers, and documentation, they facilitate the sharing of knowledge among healthcare professionals. This sharing of information promotes collaboration and furthers medical research, ultimately leading to advancements in healthcare and improved patient outcomes.

Consider a scenario where a breakthrough treatment is discovered through a clinical trial. The role of healthcare technical writers becomes pivotal in translating complex scientific data into accessible language. By crafting compelling articles and reports, they ensure that healthcare professionals across the globe can understand and implement the latest innovations, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide.

The process of becoming a healthcare technical writer

Now that we understand the vital role of a healthcare technical writer, let's explore the educational requirements, gaining relevant experience, the importance of continuous learning and development, and the fascinating challenges that come with this profession.

Educational requirements and qualifications

While there is no specific educational path required to become a healthcare technical writer, a strong foundation in science, healthcare, or technical writing is advantageous. A degree in a relevant field, such as biology, nursing, or technical communication, can provide the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in this role. Additionally, postgraduate qualifications or certifications in technical writing can further enhance employability in the healthcare sector.

However, it's important to note that technical writing in the healthcare industry requires more than just academic qualifications. A deep understanding of medical terminology, an ability to interpret complex scientific information, and a knack for simplifying technical concepts are all crucial skills for success in this field.

Gaining relevant experience

Obtaining practical experience in the healthcare field is beneficial for aspiring healthcare technical writers. This can be achieved through internships, volunteer work, or part-time positions that involve writing or creating content related to healthcare. Gaining hands-on experience allows aspiring writers to familiarize themselves with medical terminology, understand the needs of various healthcare stakeholders, and develop the necessary skills to create high-quality content.

Moreover, working closely with healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and researchers, provides invaluable insights into the challenges they face and the information they require. This collaboration ensures that healthcare technical writers can effectively bridge the gap between complex medical concepts and the general public, making healthcare information more accessible and understandable.

Continuous learning and development

As healthcare is an ever-evolving field, it is crucial for healthcare technical writers to continuously update their knowledge and skills. Staying current with medical advancements, emerging technologies, and changes in healthcare regulations ensures that their content remains accurate and relevant. Continuous learning can be achieved through attending conferences, webinars, workshops, and professional development courses specific to healthcare technical writing.

Furthermore, healthcare technical writers must also keep up with the latest trends in communication and content delivery. With the rise of digital platforms and the increasing demand for online healthcare resources, writers need to adapt their skills to effectively communicate through various mediums, such as websites, mobile applications, and social media.

In conclusion, technical writing plays a vital role in the healthcare sector by enabling effective communication and understanding between medical professionals, patients, and other stakeholders. By possessing a solid foundation of medical knowledge, exceptional writing and communication skills, and the ability to translate complex information, healthcare technical writers contribute to enhancing patient care, supporting healthcare professionals, and driving innovation in healthcare.

Embarking on a career as a healthcare technical writer is not only intellectually stimulating but also rewarding. The opportunity to make a positive impact on people's lives by providing accurate and accessible healthcare information is a privilege. However, it is important to remember that a career in healthcare technical writing requires a commitment to continuous learning and development, as staying abreast of changes in the healthcare landscape is critical. With the right education, experience, and passion for creating accessible medical content, one can embark on a fulfilling career as a healthcare technical writer.

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Common Assignments: Writing in Nursing

Although there may be some differences in writing expectations between disciplines, all writers of scholarly work are required to follow basic writing standards such as writing clear, concise, and grammatically correct sentences; using proper punctuation; demonstrating critical thought; and, in all Walden programs, using APA style. When writing in nursing, however, students must also be familiar with the goals of the discipline and discipline-specific writing expectations.

Nurses are primarily concerned about providing quality care to patients and their families, and this demands both technical knowledge and the appropriate expression of ideas (“Writing in nursing,” n.d). As a result, nursing students are expected to learn how to present information succinctly, and even though they may often use technical medical terminology (“Writing in nursing,” n.d.), their work should be accessible to anyone who may read it. Among many goals, writers within this discipline are required to:

• Document knowledge/research
• Demonstrate critical thinking
• Express creative ideas
• Explore nursing literature
• Demonstrate understanding of learning activities. (Wagner, n.d., para. 2)

Given this broad set of objectives, nursing students would benefit from learning how to write diverse literature, including scholarly reports, reviews, articles, and so on. They should aim to write work that can be used in both the research and clinical aspects of the discipline. Walden instructors often ask nursing students to write position and reflective papers, critique articles, gather and analyze data, respond to case studies, and work collaboratively on a project. Although there may be differences between the writing expectations within the classroom and those in the workplace, the standards noted below, though more common in scholarly writing, require skills that are transferrable to the work setting.

Because one cannot say everything there is to say about a particular subject, writers present their work from a particular perspective. For instance, one might choose to examine the shortage of nurses from a public policy perspective. One’s particular contribution, position, argument, or viewpoint is commonly referred to as the thesis and, according to Gerring et al. (2004), a good thesis is one that is “new, true, and significant” (p. 2). To strengthen a thesis, one might consider presenting an argument that goes against what is currently accepted within the field while carefully addressing counterarguments and adequately explaining why the issue under consideration matters (Gerring et al., 2004). The thesis is particularly important because readers want to know whether the writer has something new or worthwhile to say about the topic. Thus, as you review the literature, before writing, it is important to find gaps and creative linkages between viewpoints with the goal of contributing innovative ideas to an ongoing discussion. For a contribution to be worthwhile you must read the literature carefully and without bias; doing this will enable you to identify some of the subtle differences in the viewpoints presented by different authors and help you to better identify the gaps in the literature. Because the thesis is essentially the heart of your discussion, it is important that it is argued objectively and persuasively.

With the goal of providing high quality care, the healthcare industry places a premium on rigorous research as the foundation for evidence-based practices. Thus, students are expected to keep up with the most current research in their field and support the assertions they make in their work with evidence from the literature. Nursing students also must learn how to evaluate evidence in nursing literature and identify the studies that answer specific clinical questions (Oermann & Hays, 2011). Writers are also expected to critically analyze and evaluate studies and assess whether findings can be used in clinical practice (Beyea & Slattery, 2006). (Some useful and credible sources include journal articles, other peer-reviewed sources, and authoritative sources that might be found on the web. If you need help finding credible sources contact a librarian.)

Like other APA style papers, research papers in nursing should follow the following format: title, abstract, introduction, literature review, method, results, discussion, references, and appendices (see APA 7, Sections 2.16-2.25). Note that the presentation follows a certain logic: In the introduction one presents the issue under consideration; in the literature review, one presents what is already known about the topic (thus providing a context for the discussion), identifies gaps, and presents one’s approach; in the methods section, one would then identify the method used to gather data; and in the results and discussion sections, one then presents and explains the results in an objective manner, noting the limitations of the study (Dartmouth Writing Program, 2005). Note that not all papers need to be written in this manner; for guidance on the formatting of a basic course paper, see the appropriate template on our website.

In their research, nursing researchers use quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. In quantitative studies, researchers rely primarily on quantifiable data; in qualitative studies, they use data from interviews or other types of narrative analyses; and in mixed methods studies, they use both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A researcher should be able to pose a researchable question and identify an appropriate research method. Whatever method the researcher chooses, the research must be carried out in an objective and scientific manner, free from bias. Keep in mind that your method will have an impact on the credibility of your work, so it is important that your methods are rigorous. Walden offers a series of research methods courses to help students become familiar with the various research methods.

Instructors expect students to master the content of the discipline and use discipline- appropriate language in their writing. In practice, nurses may be required to become familiar with standardized nursing language as it has been found to lead to the following:

• better communication among nurses and other health care providers,
• increased visibility of nursing interventions,
• improved patient care,
• enhanced data collection to evaluate nursing care outcomes,
• greater adherence to standards of care, and
• facilitated assessment of nursing competency. (Rutherford, 2008)

Like successful writers in other disciplines and in preparation for diverse roles within their fields, in their writing nursing students should demonstrate that they (a) have cultivated the thinking skills that are useful in their discipline, (b) are able to communicate professionally, and (c) can incorporate the language of the field in their work appropriately (Colorado State University, 2011).

If you have content-specific questions, be sure to ask your instructor. The Writing Center is available to help you present your ideas as effectively as possible.

Beyea, S. C., & Slattery, M. J. (2006). Evidence-based practice in nursing: A guide to successful implementation . http://www.hcmarketplace.com/supplemental/3737_browse.pdf

Colorado State University. (2011). Why assign WID tasks? http://wac.colostate.edu/intro/com6a1.cfm

Dartmouth Writing Program. (2005). Writing in the social sciences . http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/soc_sciences/write.shtml

Rutherford, M. (2008). Standardized nursing language: What does it mean for nursing practice? [Abstract]. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing , 13 (1). http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/Health-IT/StandardizedNursingLanguage.html

Wagner, D. (n.d.). Why writing matters in nursing . https://www.svsu.edu/nursing/programs/bsn/programrequirements/whywritingmatters/

Writing in nursing: Examples. (n.d.). http://www.technorhetoric.net/7.2/sectionone/inman/examples.html

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Writing in the Field

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Writing in the Field: The Three Kinds of Charting

Most charting completed by nurses falls into one of three categories: 1) flowcharts; 2) careplans; and 3) narratives. Individual employers require different amounts of charting in these areas, (insert example here). The guidelines below are intended to be broad enough to cover many different levels of charting while still providing useful suggestions.

Although flowcharts are a part of nearly every medical service provider’s record keeping, the systems themselves are different enough between companies, and the skills required far enough from the writing process that this aspect of charting will not be covered here.

The careplan consists of three parts: 1) definition of the problem; 2) interventions and/or solutions; and 3) evaluation of the relative success of the interventions and solutions.

Nursing diagnoses are NOT medical diagnoses.

The diagnosis given by a doctor and the one acted on by a nurse are two different things. Example: A medical diagnosis is “Diabetes Mellitus,” while a related nursing diagnosis would be “risk for unstable blood glucose.” The first example is the doctor’s diagnosis of the patient, the second suggests a course of action to the nurse; you must work to reduce the risk.

Interventions and solutions must be specific to each patient.

Patient age, relative health, complicating factors and recovery range must all be considered when devising new interventions. Example: “Patient to check blood sugar 4 times, daily.” This may work for many patients, but if the patient is unable to check their own blood sugar (patient under the age of 5, patient physically impaired, patient has Alzheimer’s), this intervention is unrealistic and must be changed.

Evaluations must be measurable.

When writing the evaluation you must include a definite time frame and some measurable quantity to determine effectiveness. Example: “Patient will maintain blood-sugar levels between 80 and 120 x 2 weeks.” This provides both a measurable goal and a time frame for determining success.

Narratives are an important part of nursing communication and important components of capturing a patient's history and treatment.

Use only standard abbreviations.

Different facilities and even licensing agencies have standard lists of abbreviations. Make sure you know these standard abbreviations and resist the impulse to come up with your own, even if the meaning of the abbreviation seems obvious to you. Deviation from those accepted forms can cause confusion in your narrative and can even get you in legal trouble.

Do not use the first person.

In narrative charting, avoid the use of “I” and “me.” Instead of “I observed . . .” use “This nurse observed . . .” “I change the dressing daily,” becomes “Nursing changes the dressing daily.” This helps to maintain the impersonal tone discussed above.

Record communication with others.

Nursing never occurs in a vacuum. Your communications with doctors, therapists, other nurses, patients and their families regarding the patient’s health should be noted in your narrative, especially if such conversations result in or are pursuant to changes in patient care. Recording this communication allows readers of your narrative to track changes and establish clear lines of cause and effect.