Being a publisher provides the very rich experience of working with nursing leaders - editors, authors, reviewers - who help enlighten healthcare providers and positively impact patient care. Over the years, I've met many practicing nurses, nurse educators, nurse researchers and nurse scholars who have made significant contributions in their respective fields during their careers.
In the specialty practice of maternal/child nursing, Margaret Comerford Freda, EdD, RN, CHES, FAAN, is that shining star. I have had the honor to know and work with Dr. Freda during her tenure as Editor of MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing from 1998 until January 2014.
Dr. Freda has long been associated with MCN, first as the Journal's "Patient Teaching" columnist and then as Editor. Dr. Freda was selected as Editor in 1998 because of her substantial contributions to research, her vision and pursuit of excellence, and her encouragement of that desire in others. Dr. Freda brought a new voice and new rigor to the Journal. She helped to develop MCN as vital evidence based professional resource for nurses, and ushered MCN into the electronic age.
One of her most admirable traits is her ability to give selflessly of herself. Dr. Freda worked with authors who were not experienced in writing for professional journals but who had excellent projects and ideas that would benefit other clinicians in improving perinatal nursing practice. Through her mentoring of other nurses, many have gained from Dr. Freda's expertise. These nurses pass on their expertise to their colleagues and students, and patient care is better for it.
Above all, Dr. Freda has always been passionate about the power of nurses to make a difference. Dr. Freda became a renowned speaker at local and national meetings because of her inspirational and motivating presentations about the power of nursing. Her belief in the power to make a difference often spilled over to her heartfelt editorials. Nurse audiences and MCN readers have always responded to Dr. Freda's passion about their positive outcomes for mothers and babies.
As Dr. Freda steps down as MCN Editor, please join me in honoring her for her leadership and commitment to MCN, and congratulating Dr. Freda on her many contributions to nursing, evidence based healthcare and patient care.
Sandra Kasko - Publisher