The Dual-Career Dream: 5 Nursing Skills That Will Propel Your Ghostwriting Career

The rise of the gig economy has led many professionals to explore additional income streams and opportunities for career development.

Especially we travel nurses.

Recent studies revealed that about 45% of the US workforce had a side hustle in 2021. For nurses, and especially travel RNs, ghostwriting can be a fulfilling and lucrative side gig that complements their healthcare career. Think about it, you already have the skills and knowledge needed to create content, so why not use them to fuel a successful ghostwriting career?

To get started, here are five essential nursing skills that will help you become an in-demand ghostwriter.

Active Listening and Empathy

Transferable Skill: Nurses are trained to actively listen to patients, empathize with their concerns, and provide emotional support. This skill can be applied to ghostwriting, where understanding a client's needs and conveying their message with compassion is crucial.

Actionable Tip: Practice active listening during client consultations by paraphrasing their ideas, asking clarifying questions, and showing empathy.

Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume you know what the client wants without truly listening to them. Misinterpretation can lead to unsatisfied clients and revisions.

Attention to Detail

Transferable Skill: Nurses must be meticulous in administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and documenting patient care. Ghostwriters also need to pay close attention to detail, ensuring that their writing is accurate, well-researched, and error-free.

Actionable Tip: Create a pre-submission checklist to review your work for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and factual accuracy.

Mistake to Avoid: Don't rush through the editing process. Submitting work with errors can damage your credibility and result in lost clients.

Time Management and Organization

Transferable Skill: Nurses must manage multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize responsibilities, and adhere to strict schedules. Ghostwriters also need excellent time management and organizational skills to meet deadlines and manage multiple assignments.

Actionable Tip: Use project management tools or apps to track assignments, set deadlines, and allocate time for each project.

Mistake to Avoid: Don't overcommit to projects, as it can lead to missed deadlines and burnout. Know your limits and set realistic expectations for yourself and your clients.

Adaptability and Flexibility

Transferable Skill: Nurses must adapt to various situations, from emergencies to changing patient needs. Ghostwriters must be versatile in their writing style and tone, adjusting to different clients and industries.

Actionable Tip: Read widely across various genres and industries to improve your adaptability as a ghostwriter. Practice writing in different styles and tones.

Mistake to Avoid: Don't get stuck in one writing style or niche. Being versatile will open up more opportunities and make you a more attractive candidate for potential clients.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Transferable Skill: Nurses must analyze complex information, make informed decisions, and develop creative solutions to problems. Ghostwriters must also possess strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to craft compelling and engaging content.

Actionable Tip: Continuously develop your critical thinking skills through reading, attending workshops, or participating in online courses.

Mistake to Avoid: Don't rely solely on your intuition or personal experience when crafting content. Use research, data, and logical reasoning to support your writing and provide value to your clients.

The final word

Leveraging these five transferable skills from nursing to ghostwriting can help you succeed in a dual career path.

There's no need to give up travel nursing. Especially since ghostwriting can be done from anywhere, allowing you to travel and earn an income. By applying your nursing experience to your ghostwriting side hustle, you can maximize your potential and create new opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Make the leap, and take command of your freedom.

Grab your FREE 5-Day Crash Course On How to Land Your First $25,000 Client as a Travel Nurse Ghostwriter (from a travel nurse who's done it!)