12 AI Prompts Health Writers Can Use Today to Boost Productivity (Without Compromising Ethics)

By Elizabeth Hanes BSN RN
Freelance health journalist and founder of RN2writer

Elizabeth is a nurse turned six-figure freelance writer. Her work has appeared in WebMD, Verywell Health, Cardinal Health, and many other major healthcare brands and publications. She now helps nurses transition to freelance writing through RN2writer - an accredited provider of Continuing Nursing Education.

If you’ve been watching the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT with a mix of curiosity and dread, you’re not alone. Many freelance writers—especially those of us coming from clinical backgrounds—are wondering how to ethically integrate these tools into our businesses without feeling like we’re “cheating” or risking our reputations.

The good news? AI can be a fantastic assistant when used responsibly.

The key is this: use AI to support your original thinking—not replace it.

In this post, you’ll find 12 ethical, productivity-boosting AI prompts tailored specifically for health writers. These will help you brainstorm ideas, market your services, and organize your thoughts—without compromising your voice, integrity, or clinical judgment.

🧠 First, What’s Considered an Ethical Use of AI for Writers?

Let’s clarify what’s “above board” (and what’s not).

✅ Ethical Uses:

• Brainstorming content ideas

• Outlining your own blog posts or newsletters

• Rewriting your own words in a new format or tone

• Generating marketing copy for your freelance services

• Summarizing research or articles for personal use/reference

🚫 Unethical (or at least sketchy) Uses:

• Letting AI write an entire client deliverable without substantial revision or without disclosure

• Publishing AI-written medical advice without fact-checking

• Submitting AI-generated work under your name as if you wrote it from scratch

• Using AI to imitate a real person’s voice or style without consent

In short: if you wouldn’t be comfortable explaining it to a client—or putting it on your invoice—it’s probably not ethical.

🔍 12 AI Prompts You Can Use Today (No Guilt Required)

These are plug-and-play prompts that help you run your business more effectively—not cheat at your craft.

1. “Give me 10 blog post ideas for a freelance nurse writer who helps health tech companies educate their audience.”

Use this to break through idea fatigue when writing your own blog content.

2. “Outline a newsletter for my clients that highlights recent healthcare writing trends and subtly reminds them I’m available for projects.”

AI can help you organize thoughts and stay consistent in your outreach.

3. “Rewrite this sentence in a friendlier, more conversational tone: [insert your sentence here].”

A great way to refine your personal brand voice on your website or social media.

4. “Generate five LinkedIn post ideas based on this blog I just wrote: [paste blog link or content].”

Repurpose long-form content into bite-size social media material.

5. “Suggest a subject line for a welcome email from a nurse-turned-writer introducing herself to potential clients.”

Perfect for improving open rates on your freelance newsletter.

6. “Create a list of pain points that hospital marketing directors might be facing in 2025.”

Use this to sharpen your messaging and tailor client pitches.

7. “Give me five tagline ideas for a health writer who specializes in simplifying complex clinical topics.”

Use for your website header, business cards, or email signature.

8. “List potential objections a healthcare company might have to hiring a freelance writer—and ways to overcome them.”

Use this to shape persuasive copy on your services page or proposals.

9. “Help me format this article into a bulleted outline: [paste rough article draft].”

Great for when your ideas feel like a pile of spaghetti and you need structure.

10. “Suggest a content plan for three months of blog posts aimed at healthcare clients who want help with their marketing content.”

For building your own content calendar without pulling an all-nighter.

11. “Summarize this clinical article into key takeaways I can keep for future reference: [paste article or abstract].”

Use this for personal research such as query slants—not client work.

12. “Create a short email pitch introducing me to a new prospect who hires freelance medical writers.”

AI can help with structure—but you add the personality and authenticity.

🧭 Reminder: You’re Still the Brain Behind the Business

AI is a tool, not a solution. The real value comes from:

• Your lived experience in healthcare

• Your ability to interpret nuance and emotion

• Your personal stories and voice

• Your ethical standards and strategic thinking

Using AI to support your process is no different than using Grammarly to catch typos or Google to find a statistic. It’s how you use the tool that matters.

Want to Use AI Like a Pro—Without Losing Your Soul?

Our video training, AI-Proofing Your Writing Business, is built exactly for writers like you. It’s a non-techy, real-world guide that shows you:

• How to use AI ethically to support your workflow

• What red flags to watch for in client requests

• How to shift your positioning so clients see the value of hiring a human

We’re not here to fear the future—we’re here to write it.

👉 [Watch AI-Proofing Your Writing Business now and start using AI the smart, sustainable way.]

And hey - this training awards 1.0 contact hour of continuing nursing education!

This post produced with an assist from ChatGPT.