Choosing Courage Over Credentials

getting started

When you’re considering a career pivot—especially into something creative like freelance writing—it’s easy to get caught in the trap of "I need more credentials first."

As nurses, we’re trained to believe more education equals more competence. But when it comes to becoming a writer, more certificates don’t necessarily mean more success.

What does matter? Courage.

Credentials Are Tools—Not Prerequisites

Yes, you need basic writing skills. But you do not need:

A journalism degree

A published portfolio

A certificate in health communications

What you do need is the courage to try.

Some of our most successful RN2writer students started with nothing more than their nursing experience and a willingness to learn. They didn’t wait until they had another piece of paper. They started by writing a sample and sending a pitch.

The Real Qualifications

You already have what clients value:

Deep knowledge of healthcare

The ability to communicate clearly and accurately

Empathy, insight, and real-world experience

Those "soft" skills translate beautifully into health writing, whether you're writing for patients, clinicians, or health tech companies.

And if you’re worried about grammar or style? That can be learned (and edited). But courage can’t be bought.

A Few More to Explore on This Topic

The Credential Trap Keeps You Stuck

Here’s the truth: The desire for more credentials is often fear in disguise.

Fear of rejection. Fear of being seen. Fear of trying and failing.

But guess what? Every successful freelancer once felt that way, too. What separates those who move forward from those who stay stuck isn’t a diploma—it’s a decision.

A decision to be bold. A decision to start. A decision to believe, just a little, in yourself.

Build Confidence by Doing, Not Studying

Want to feel more confident? Start writing.

Write one post on LinkedIn about a nursing topic you care about

Read this blog post about health content niches

Email one person who might hire a writer

These actions build real confidence, because you’re engaging with your future instead of studying it from afar.

Start Small, But Start

I’m not saying credentials don’t matter at all. But they are not a requirement to begin.

Begin with your story. Your voice. Your insight.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about proving you’re smart enough. You are.

This is about trusting yourself enough to try.

And that takes courage.

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Elizabeth Hanes BSN RN is a nationally recognized nurse writer and health communication educator with more than a decade of experience at the intersection of nursing and professional writing. Her bylines have appeared in WebMD, Verywell Health, PBS NextAvenue, Cardinal Health, and dozens of other major healthcare brands and publications. Through RN2writer, an accredited provider of Continuing Nursing Education, Elizabeth teaches nurses how to expand their income, advance their careers, and sustain themselves through the power of intentional communication. Her students and readers span every nursing specialty, degree level, and career stage.