We recently connected with Portia Wofford-Terry and have shared our conversation below.

Portia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

I was working two nursing jobs (one full-time and one PRN). PRN, for those unfamiliar, means I’d pick up shifts with facilities depending on their needs and my schedule. After a while, the burnout was too much. I really needed more personal time and time with my son, but I knew I needed to find something that could bring in at least as much income as my PRN job.

I’ve always had a natural gift for writing. It’s a talent that I know is a blessing from God. As a nurse, I used my writing skills to educate patients, but I wondered if I could make a living doing it for companies. So, I took a leap of faith and DMed a well-known nursing platform to ask if they hired nurses to write. They responded with an opportunity to write a test article. I gave it my best shot, and it was a hit. Not only did they pay me for it, but they asked me to write more. That moment changed everything. I realized that my writing was valuable, and people were willing to pay for it.

To this day, that first article is still used in nursing programs as required reading for nursing and advanced nursing courses. Nurses message me all the time, excited to tell me that they used my piece in class. It’s such a full-circle moment to see that my work is impacting others, and many of them feel like they “know” me through my writing or social media.

Portia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a wife, mom, an award-winning nurse, writer, and serial entrepreneur. I like to think of myself more as an entrepreneur than a business owner, because I’m always thinking about the next business venture.

I partner with brands to create nursing and health-related content that’s not only easy to read and understand but also converts. From blog posts and articles to product descriptions and social media content, I do it all.

I’ve had the privilege of teaching nurses, physicians, and organizations how to write content that truly engages people and patients. What sets me apart is my ability to adapt and create content that resonates with audiences, content they can really see themselves in.

I’m incredibly proud to have taught hundreds of nurses how to get paid for writing content for brands. Equally, I’m proud of building a brand where healthcare creators are paid fairly for creating meaningful social content for companies.

I’m also deeply passionate about health equity. I’ve dedicated time to working with organizations like DollarFor and Healthcare Reformed that champion this cause, while also advocating through my writing. By partnering with health organizations, I’ve been able to educate them on the importance of health equity and assist them in implementing strategies that ensure everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality care. This work is close to my heart because I believe true healthcare reform begins with understanding and addressing these disparities.

In addition, I collaborate with nurse- and healthcare worker-led organizations and brands, such as Don’t Clock Out and IMPACT in Healthcare, to lobby for safe staffing initiatives and advocate for the mental health of healthcare workers. These efforts are important in creating a healthier, more sustainable workforce and improving the overall quality of care.

You never know what idea I’ll have next, follow me on social media to stay updated!

Fun facts about me: I was Ms. Black Alabama USA 22 and I have a phobia of escalators!

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I used my job to fund my business. It’s that simple.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I’ve been aware of AI for years. In fact, I was teaching brands how to ethically incorporate it into their content long before it became the trending topic it is today. However, when AI started going viral, many writers— myself included— lost jobs and clients. It was a tough shift, but I had to get creative. So, I began reaching out to brands, pointing out when I could tell their content was AI-generated, and offering suggestions on how to improve it. It’s totally fine to use AI, but it’s important to have a real writer (someone human) review and tweak it before it gets published.

Another nurse and I co-founded a brand called “Wellstock”, where we create hyper-realistic AI-generated stock images. Our goal is to provide more diversity in the visual content used by healthcare brands. We noticed a gap in representation, and through “Wellstock” we’re able to offer images that truly reflect the diverse faces and experiences of healthcare professionals, patients, and communities. It’s a way to bring more inclusivity into the healthcare space.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewritenurse
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/healthcare-freelance-writer

Image Credits

Image credits:

Mann Brown
IMPACT In Healthcare