Do I have to be an RN to be a Medical Writer?

[EquinoxSolstice92]

I've always wanted to become a writer but I took nursing instead. I thought, "why not become a medical writer?" The problem is, I'm only an LVN. I'm going to pursue my RN but for now, I'm working at a long term care facility in order to gain some experience. I'm going to stick with it until I can't take it anymore. Today is my third month working at an LTC facility.

The question is: do I need to finish a Bachelor's Degree in nursing in order to be a medical writer? Do I have to get a Ph.D and/or a Master's Degree? Can't LVNs be a medical writer? I know it's going to take a while but I'm willing to pursue my dream of becoming a writer.

The reason I prefer to be a writer because while I'm book smart, I'm bad at hands on training.

[AJJKRN]

What type of writing are you talking about...journals, EBP, satire...you might get more responses if you expand on what you want to write about.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I agree with the above post. You need to define what you mean by "medical writer."

[flying_ace2]

This is the career path I'm pursuing as well. I already work in the pharmaceutical industry and I'd like to stay in it, so, for me, medical writing can mean research grant proposals/requests, research articles based on clinical trials, educational materials for providers and patients, etc. etc. From my own research, it seems as though one needs at LEAST a BSN, but in order to advance both professionally and financially, we will need at least an MSN, if not a PhD. I honestly have no idea if LVNs can become medical writers - I'm only going based off my situation and the research I've done so far. Good luck to you though, and I'd be interested to see what you find out about your unique career path to writing!

[Extra Pickles]

I'm not sure I know what you mean about being a medical writer but I think if it's what I think you're talking about, you need some significant academic chops to be taken seriously. Even, perhaps, to really understand what it is you're writing about!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Look at medical writer job postings, nursing degrees are not listed as a requirement, English degrees or other degrees that require a lot of writing are preferred.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I learned something new today: what is a "medical writer"?

I looked at several sources. There is no one defined path to medical writing, but the consensus is one must have strong writing skills, a firm knowledge of statistics, particularly with respect to understanding those involved in research studies, a strong background in either medicine, pharmacology, or science, and preferably, higher education.

In a Nutshell: How to Get Into Medical Writing | Biotech Ink Spots

To the aspiring medical writer, I suggest the following general strategy:

EDUCATION

Acquire enough higher education. In the US, this means at least a college degree, preferably in a life science. In fact, employers often prefer to hire medical writers who have a masters or doctorate degree in a life science.

[EquinoxSolstice92]

What type of writing are you talking about...journals, EBP, satire...you might get more responses if you expand on what you want to write about.

Anything will do. Writing a blog, a textbook, an article.

[EquinoxSolstice92]

I learned something new today: what is a "medical writer"?

I looked at several sources. There is no one defined path to medical writing, but the consensus is one must have strong writing skills, a firm knowledge of statistics, particularly with respect to understanding those involved in research studies, a strong background in either medicine, pharmacology, or science, and preferably, higher education.

In a Nutshell: How to Get Into Medical Writing | Biotech Ink Spots

Then I guess I can't be a medical writer then because I don't think I want to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in nursing although I'll pursue my RN degree. Two years isn't enough then. You need a four year degree in order to be a medical writer.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Anything will do. Writing a blog, a textbook, an article.

Blogs and anecdotal articles are not considered medical writing and can be done by anyone. Research and evidence based articles are usually written by researchers (sometimes with the aid from a medical writer). Nursing textbooks are written by academics (sometimes with the aid from a medical writer). A medical writer has to know how to write at a high level and understand medical content.

[AJJKRN]

Anything will do. Writing a blog, a textbook, an article.

Then dont sell sell yourself short! I'm not too convinced that you have to have a certain nursing degree to write about all scientific/journal/EBP materials. Search the different types of writings published by nurses and you may be surprised to find that just getting published may be more of the writer's hurdle than what education or degree that they have when actually writing their works.

[Extra Pickles]

I don't think I want to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in nursing although I'll pursue my RN degree.

FWIW, you either get a Bachelor degree in nursing, or an Associate degree in nursing. There is no such thing as an RN degree. You can also become an RN without any degree at all, by going the diploma school route!