Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 1995

Nurses as Technical Writers: What They Need to Know

Lee A. Spears Western Kentucky University

Abstract

Acquaintance with the writing of nurses would help instructors design assignments for nursing students who enroll in basic technical writing courses. Based on secondary research, samples of nursing documentation, and interviews with seventy-six bedside nurses, thirty nurse managers, and five nurse consultants, this study discusses the importance of writing tasks for nurses and describes the most common documents nurses generate. Good writing skills for nurses improve healthcare delivery and promote empowerment in a predominantly female profession. However, most of the bedside nurses and all the nurse managers and consultants believe nurses have significant writing problems. This article suggests instruction in six communication principles and several types of assignments that would help prepare nursing students in technical writing courses for future writing activities.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1995-10-01
DOI
10.2190/du36-hjmk-vfwr-vtly
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Roy (2008)
    Designing Procedural Graphics for Surgical Patient-Education Modules: An Experi…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Spears (2002)
    Persuasive Techniques Used in Fundraising Messages
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (2)

  1. Kesselring (1993)
    Putting Trauma Care in Writing: Parallels between Doctors' and Nurses' Responsi…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Reynolds et al. (1989)
    Patient Records in the Mental Health Disciplines
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Also cites 5 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1177/108056998604900302
     ↗
  2. 10.1097/00006223-199011000-00008
     ↗
  3. 10.1097/00152193-198811000-00030
     ↗
  4. 10.1177/002194368201900303
     ↗
  5. 10.1097/00152193-199310000-00030
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 3 View in citation network →

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