March 22, 2017 | NLN CEO Update on NEP Call for Manuscripts

At the heart of the NLN mission and goals is the advancement of the science of nursing education, the understanding that the education of our future nurses must be built on sound, evidence-based teaching practices. That is why I feel so strongly about the value of the NLN research journal Nursing Education Perspectives (NEP). It has long been a treasured member benefit.

For 15 months now, NEP has been published by our publications partner Wolters Kluwer – together, we have already produced eight issues of our bimonthly journal. The ninth – the May/June issue – is in production now. We’re very excited about this arrangement, which helps us expand the influence of Nursing Education Perspectives far and wide. As an NLN member, you receive the table of contents when each issue is published online, and you have access to all current and archived articles and those published ahead of print (PAP).

Our partnership with Wolters Kluwer enables us to plan way ahead for the future, and I am excited to report that we are already looking to the NLN Education Summit 2020, with a special issue to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing report. We are thrilled that Dr. Susan Hassmiller, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation senior advisor for nursing and director of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, has agreed to be the guest editor.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Special issues are also being planned for 2018 and 2019, and work is well under way for the September/October 2017 Summit issue. It too focuses on recommendations of the IOM report, with process manuscripts from statewide consortia.

Here are some specifics about the upcoming special issues. For 2018, Dr. Barbara Patterson, editor of the NEP Research Briefs, will work with Dr. Celeste Alfes, associate professor at Case Western Reserve University, on an issue focused on educational research collaborations between PhD/EdD- and DNP-prepared faculty. You have some time ahead of you but start planning your manuscript now – the deadline for submissions is February 1, 2018.

For 2019, the topic is global nursing education. Guest editors Drs. Angela McNelis, professor and associate dean at George Washington University, and Tamara McKinnon of San Jose University, have long worked together on global education and service-learning. For this special issue they are looking for multisite studies on partnerships between US and international schools of nursing.

Details, including suggested topics, for all special issues, are online now.

It is important to note that your submissions to NEP are welcome at any time. And while we emphasize research and the publication of robust, multisite studies, the editors want you know that we also publish single-site, pilot, or small-sample-size research studies as Research Briefs, and the creative, innovative works of nurse educators in the NEP Innovation Center. In case you missed it, Drs. Barbara Patterson and Linda Caputi, Research Briefs and Innovation Center editors, respectively, talk about the importance of their work in a guest editorial titled “From a Spark of Innovation to Building the Science of Nursing Education” (Vol. 37, No. 6).

This is a good time to send a shout out to Dr. Joyce Fitzpatrick, NEP editor since 1998. The Nightingale Initiative for Global Health has honored Joyce, an Academy of Nursing Living Legend, with the Action in Advocacy Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Nursing’s Future Leaders, presented last week in conjunction with the UN 61st Commission on the Status of Women. Join me in congratulating Joyce, with thanks for her leadership in producing our premiere journal for nursing education.

Joyce has asked me to remind you that we have an ongoing need for nurse educators representing various specialty areas to serve on the Nursing Education Perspectives Peer Review Panel. Your participation on the panel helps strengthen NEP as a product of the NLN’s collective expertise. Send your CV to managing editor Leslie Block.

And plan to meet all the editors at a special session at the NLN Education Summit 2017 in San Diego. Bring your ideas for advancing the science of nursing education through publication in the NLN research journal.

Before I close, let me send my belated congratulations to the more than 5,000 CNEs – certified nurse educators from the United States and abroad – in recognition of Certified Nurses Day, celebrated each year on March 19. We are immensely proud of the NLN Certification for Nurse Educators program, which establishes academic nursing education as a specialty area of practice. I hope to see many, many CNEs sporting handsome red bags at the Summit, September 14-16, 2017.

And colleagues, in the brief time, since my last Member Update, we have lost another inspirational leader in nursing and health care. Dr. Carol A. Andersen was on the faculty of the University of Texas at Tyler at the time of her death. As Carol Fetters, she was president of the National Students Nurses’ Association and later served NSNA as director of governance and program development. Before that, she served the NLN with distinction as a leader in professional development and assessment and evaluation. Our hearts go out to her husband Harvey and her children.

A final word. Last week the NLN issued a release to voice concern about the long-term implications of the president’s proposed budget, which will impede access to care and training for nurses and nurse educators. As the voice for nursing education, the NLN will continue to advocate for increased investment in nurse workforce development. If you missed it, please read the release and communicate with your representatives in Congress about your concerns.

Registration is Open for the NLN 2017 Education Summit: Our Community of Colleagues #NLNSummit17, Register today. University of New Orleans received cybersecurity education grants from the National Security Agency, Learn more. Preparing Your Program for NLN CNEA Accreditation: Beginning the Journey with in #SanDiego Register Today. #NLNVoices #NewReport presented by The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation - "Registered #Nurses: Partners in Transforming Primary Care", Read more.

Next Issue of the NLN Member Update: Wednesday, April 5, 2017. View previous issues of NLN Member Update »