Why Bruce Specializes in Scientific Writing and Editing for Nurses

I come from a family of health care providers; collectively, we could staff a small clinic. My mother was a nurse, and throughout my childhood I benefitted often and greatly from her expert care. By age eleven, I was volunteering as a hospital “candy striper” and by the end of high school, I was scrubbing in as an operating room technician-in-training. I later served as an OR tech In the U.S. Army (in Texas, Viet Nam, and Thailand) and as a civilian (in San Jose, California).

Many years later, my appreciation for nurses deepened when, at an acute care hospital in San Francisco, I worked in administrative capacities in patient education, quality, and patient advocacy. During this time, I sat in on many nursing quality meetings—and was deeply impressed by the level of scientific and technological knowledgeability of the nurses in those meetings. In our nursing units, I also witnessed the same nurses providing care so compassionately. Seeing these nurses in action, I was filled with admiration. I do not know of another profession that requires such high levels of development and integration of intellect and heart.

I recognize that nurses will continue to be the primary change agents addressing the many challenges confronting health care in the United States. I have taken the Institute of Medicine’s seminal report, “The Future of Nursing,” to heart. In particular, I subscribe to the report’s Second Message:

“Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.”

Serving in whatever way I can to achieve this second objective is deeply fulfilling. As a nursing science editor, writing mentor, and scientific writing instructor, I help nurses grow in communicative effectiveness and personal empowerment. Witnessing this growth in the nurses with whom I’ve had the honor to work is a great pleasure—my way of participating vicariously the world of nursing.