For those of you who have published, do you remember the first time you saw your manuscript in print? Do you remember what you felt when you first saw your name in print? For those of you who have never published, just imagine how you would feel. My first article was published in a large national nursing journal in 1983. I cannot even begin to describe how I felt. I remember a lot of screaming and jumping in joy as if I had just won the lottery. I told everyone I knew. When the issue was released, I proudly showed it to everyone-just like people do with a newborn baby. I am sure that those of you who have been published probably acted the same way. I was hooked after that first publication. I immediately started writing another article for publication.

Now imagine experiencing that feeling while you are still in nursing school. Would this experience get you excited about entering the profession of nursing? Nursing is a profession, and yes, we do have a body of literature specifically for nursing. However, this need never stops growing. As a profession, we must work tirelessly to maintain and update our body of knowledge. Remember, lifelong learning is critical for our profession.

I would like to encourage all nurses to consider writing for publication. Yes, it is a frustrating experience and a long process. Writing is not always easy. I have often fantasized about throwing my computer into my hot tub. Nevertheless, writing is a worthwhile experience. The thrill of seeing your name in print tends to have an amnesiac effect. You tend to forget the hard parts and begin to enjoy the present and future. The process of writing has been compared to giving birth.

Since I would like more nurses to "catch the bug for writing," I encourage students to write as well for Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing (DCCN) or any other professional journal. Thus, I do encourage students to write for publication while they are still in class. In fact, I have made this an assignment in some of the classes I teach. The student must decide on a journal and follow the author guidelines for that journal. After I grade the paper, I work with the student(s) to get their paper published. As you have noticed in this issue and past issues, I have published the critical care articles written by students. I plan to continue this, as well. All articles written by students for DCCN go through the same peer-review process as any other author.

All of us can learn from students. I learn from my students all the time. Sometimes they ask question I cannot answer. When this happens, I try to find the answer. However, sometimes I cannot find the answer and let the student know. This encouraged a student to write a paper about the topic. It was accepted in another journal. Hopefully, if a student's work is accepted for publication, the student will be bitten by the "writing bug." Once you "catch the bug," you are a lifelong writer. The "bug" is not curable, but it can be managed. You never know when you might "catch the writing bug," but when you do, do not ignore it. Seek assistance with the writing.

As professionals, we must mentor students and nurses new to our units. In the classroom setting, we can make writing for publication a requirement, if appropriate to the subject. Current and future nurses and students must appreciate nursing's body of knowledge. Contribution to this body of knowledge is crucial. Nursing faculty and nurses who have already been published can help students and those nurses who want to write for publication for the first time. Editors are also a good resource for writers.

So if you see an article written by a student, please do not gloss over it. Give it the attention it deserves. I learn something in each article I read. Pay attention to the material presented in the article as well as the author(s).

Remember, someday we will need nursing care from today's students and nurses new to the career. Would you prefer a nurse who is a lifelong learner and contributes to nursing? Or would you prefer a nurses who is just putting in the hours. Let's showcase the work of students and newer nurses instead of eating our young. Let me know how you feel about students writing for publication. Also, I am interested in how writing is approached in both academia and the clinical setting. By working together, we can contribute to our ever-growing body of knowledge.

Vickie A. Miracle, EdD, RN, CCRN

Editor-in-Chief, DCCN; Lecturer

School of Nursing

Bellarmine University

Louisville, Kentucky

[email protected]