At The Nursing Lens, we believe that stories heal. Whether it’s a hard-won health article, a personal blog post, or a reflective photo essay, what matters most is the message, not just the method.

We live in a revolutionary time. Writers now have access to generative AI tools that can assist with brainstorming, organization, grammar, style, even structure. And while some people view this as a threat to “real writing,” we see it as a new kind of pencil.

Here’s our stance:

We embrace the use of AI to support the creative process, but never to replace the lived experience behind the work. Our readers expect authenticity. Our writers, many of them nurses or caregivers, carry stories no machine could fabricate. If a tool helps you get that story out faster, clearer, or with more emotional clarity- use it. But let’s keep it real.

To help maintain transparency and integrity:

  • Use a grammar checker (like Grammarly or Hemingway) to keep things clean and readable.
  • Our stance on references and citations—use them. Even better, make your references "link-out" to the original articles used for ease of fact checking.
  • And most important: Make sure your voice comes through. Anecdotes, reflections, real emotion- this is what makes our content matter. Use your nursing lens. This is what editors and readers want. Anyone could make a great burrito, but us nurses, we bring the sauce. That's where all the flavor is.

We don’t require contributors to be literary purists. We just want the work to land with truth. If your piece was guided by a tool but still rooted in your own experience, it belongs here.

Think of it like DJing. Some folks are vinyl-record purists. Then came the Compact Disc. The art of DJing didn’t die- it evolved. Technology opened doors. The beat never stopped. And neither should your stories.

Today, vinyl DJs and digital DJs peacefully coexist. Nobody has to declare, “This mix was made with digital music” or “I only play vinyl.” They just create. If it hits, it hits.

Same goes for us. If your story connects, informs, or heals- we welcome it.