Welcome to the new incarnation of CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing. The year 2011 heralds significant changes in the way CIN publishes, with substantial benefits for readers and authors alike.
After publishing dozens of articles over the years on the use of the Internet for nursing informatics practice, education, and research the journal has made the transition to an online presence. Beginning in mid-February, CIN will publish new, original content monthly. This represents a near doubling in the number of peer-reviewed, research-based articles delivered to subscribers.
The ANI Connection will provide reports on the latest developments and projects in nursing informatics and activities of the member organizations of the Alliance for Nursing Informatics (ANI), while monthly CIN Plus articles will continue the tradition of quick-access and "how-to" pieces that give readers practical and useful information for their day-to-day work. These will be published monthly in the online issue, which is an increase in content for these special features.
In addition, manuscripts that are accepted are now fast tracked for publication ahead of print. I am very pleased at the way this will allow authors to report on their work in a much more timely fashion. Not only will this increase the body of literature on nursing informatics as it applies to clinical practice, administration, education, and research, the ripple effect will also benefit patients and healthcare in the broader sphere.
Articles will be prepared for publication and appear in PDF format on the CIN Web site (cinjournal.com) within weeks after final acceptance following peer review. CIN will also publish bimonthly print collections of articles grouped on relevant themes.
In 2011, I have planned a series of collections that should intrigue and enlighten readers and provide a valuable information resource for future knowledge in informatics:
* Web-Based Patient Education and Support
* Informatics, Safety, and Efficiency: A Perfect Storm
* Nursing Education Enhanced by Informatics
* Research Methodology and Informatics: Barriers and Opportunities
* Enhancing Oncology Care and Survivorship Through Informatics
This inaugural issue that you are holding in your hands features five articles that explore various aspects of how informatics can benefit patients through education and support. Preventing falls, managing chronic illnesses, and increasing awareness for smoking cessation combined with multimedia approaches, Web-based education, and the use of mobile devices provide information that is both fascinating in its application as well as practical. I hope you enjoy reading these contributions as much as I enjoyed reviewing and editing them for publication.
CIN's regular feature, The Net Nomad, will explore Internet resources that further complement these themes in each of the topical collection issues. In this issue, Bill Perry discusses finding and evaluating health information on the Internet.
And how will readers and authors find out when the latest developments on the frontier of nursing informatics are available? By signing up for the RSS feed at cinjournal.com, you'll know when the freshest fast-tracked articles have been posted prior to publication. You can also sign up for electronic tables of content alerts to be notified when each issue, with the latest ANI Connection and CIN Plus articles, becomes available.
Please join me in welcoming CIN to the 21st century!