Does your mind sometimes wander? I find my mind wandering more often than I care to admit. When I was younger, I don't think I felt that I ever had the "luxury" of letting my mind wander to whatever thoughts it may. Thinking back, it seems like I always had a very structured plan for the day and, thus, for my brain. Now, things are different. Suddenly, I have found myself at a point in my life when I apparently have quite a bit of "down time" that has allowed my brain to be free to wander where it will. I have found my brain wandering in thought on long daily commutes (don't worry, I have been paying attention to the traffic too!) and during my daily walks on the treadmill. Aside from sleeping and working, these two activities take up a large chunk of my time every day. I used to resent the time spent "doing nothing," thinking I should be using that time to do more important things. Now, I realize these periods of reflection are incredibly useful to me; they help me organize and analyze thoughts and allow me time to be thoughtful about my views and beliefs. I think the time for processing information is sometimes very much undervalued.
If we are being honest, I occasionally think about very random thoughts during these times. For example, about the shiny, cherry red sports car that just passed me by, about changing toothpaste brands and flavors, and about almost any other random nonsense that seems important that day. However, dear readers, you must know what I spend most of time thinking about, right? Yes, dermatology, dermatology nursing, and certainly the Journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association (JDNA). Of course, this would be the number one thing I both randomly and not so randomly think about.
I think about the JDNA mission and vision, our current content and future content; I think about our CE offerings and what our readers think about the articles; I think about what you, the reader, might be hoping for from our next few issues; I think about our volunteers and our reviewers; and I think about the changing landscape of dermatology practice and healthcare in general. Furthermore, I find myself trying to not think about the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, or ICD-10. I know, it is coming whether I am ready for it or not. But, I will save my ruminations about ICD-10 for later.
So what else have I been thinking about lately? I have been thinking about alopecia areata and vitiligo. I would personally love to know more about both of these conditions, their treatments, research that is currently going on about these topics, and how our patients with these conditions are doing. Is anyone out there reading this editorial an expert on either of these conditions? If so, do you care to share your knowledge?
I have also been thinking about how chronic diseases and conditions affect so many of our patients. I have been thinking about our patients who have diabetes, who are obese, or who use tobacco products, just to name a few of the common conditions I see every day. Thoughts of these concerns got me to thinking about all the different colleagues we should be working with in dermatology, or rather, maybe it is the colleagues whom our patients need to be working with. How many of you regularly work with another provider or specialist in the care of your dermatology patients? I am sure, among our readers, that dermatology nurses are helping patients to work with rheumatologists, neurologists, bariatric surgeons, otolaryngologists and cosmetic surgeons, psychologists and psychiatrists, wound care specialists, and those skilled in facilitating smoking cessation. Have you ever stopped to consider the complicated nature of some dermatology conditions?
For some diagnoses, the dermatology nurses likely find themselves inundated with numerous patient concerns, some of which they can help with and some of which they cannot. This is where our colleagues and, if we are lucky, our friends can help both us and our patient. What kinds of relationships does your practice cultivate? Have you or your practice developed unique ways to interact that benefit patients? Have you developed protocols for when to enlist "outside help" for your dermatology patients? I invite you to share your experiences and expertise with us; if you do not want to write an article for JDNA, feel free just to send me an e-mail with your tips or suggestions, and I will be sure to share them in the next issue.
During all my mental wandering of 2015, I have been trying very hard to practice what I preach. I have been exercising more (I still don't like it), I have been drinking more water, I have been using the steps more regularly, I have continued to use sunscreen daily and now I also am reapplying throughout the day, and I have been doing my monthly self skin checks. Which brings me to the most recent news of the week-I found a new mole! Imagine my panic. Thanks to my involvement in the dermatology nursing world for the past 15 years, not only was I able to catch this the moment it was there, but also, I was immediately filled with the knowledge of the worst possible imaginary outcomes there are. Mixed blessings I would say. Thankfully, my trusted local dermatologist, Dr. Hawit, humored me by agreeing to do a biopsy on a 1-mm brown spot that had been on my leg less than 4 weeks. However, I had said, "It's new and it's a dark color for me and it isn't supposed to be here." We are waiting on pathology as I write this editorial-I called the office today to check, and their receptionist reassured me that it may just take a few more days. But you know what? I felt better the minute the mole was off of me. I am sure the pathology report will be fine, but if it is not, it is comforting to know I have a whole bunch of really qualified dermatology nurse friends and colleagues I can call on as needed.
Like usual, I would like to end the editorial with a reminder about the three writing awards that our publisher, Wolters Kluwer-Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, is again sponsoring for 2015. There will be awards for The Best Clinical Article, The Best Research Article, and the People's Choice award. JDNA readers will be helping to vote on that award next year, so keep reading and keep your favorite articles in mind during voting time. I am looking forward to presenting the Writing Awards at the annual DNA Convention next year in Indianapolis, IN, and hope you can be there with us for both the annual convention and the Awards Ceremony.
Here is to letting our minds wander some in the next few weeks.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Angela L. Borger
Editor in Chief
E-mail: [email protected]