I am so excited to share with you that, just about every other day, there is a brand new article submitted to the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing (JNN). I receive article submissions from more than 20 countries and every continent. Clearly, there are scientists and clinicians across the globe who are eager to publish in our journal. I am confident that at least 1 person reading this editorial is a JNN author or author-in-waiting. Unfortunately, I am equally confident that at least one of you has also had the dreaded rejection letter.
I am also excited to share with you that JNN is widely read, as evidenced by the many active Ovid sites across the globe. In addition to print copies distributed to each member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurse, each year, the journal has more than 40 000 online articles viewed. Clearly, there are scientists and clinicians throughout the world who want to read our journal. Hence, I am confident that at least 1 person reading this editorial also reads every issue of JNN. I am just as certain that at least one of you will read a JNN article as an "assigned reading" by a teacher, professor, or employer.
This brings me to the first part of the title, "Publish What You Preach." I know from experience that there are hundreds of neuro-nurses out there who preach the neuro-gospel all day long. They walk around the clinic or unit arguing about which intervention, medication, or assessment is best. If this is you-I'm calling you out! In fact-everyone you work with already knows you like to preach, and they are calling you out too. It is time to expand your soapbox and do some neuro-preaching in JNN.
Don't get me wrong, this is going to take some work on your part. I know that it's not easy to get published. As an editor, I am sadly forced to reject more articles than I accept. Simply put, there is not enough room in the journal to print every article that gets submitted. However, you can increase your chance of getting published. All you need to do is tell the truth. Turn your rant into a position statement by providing up-to-date facts (references). Research facts are great; JNN publishes research. Performance improvement facts are great-we publish performance improvement: facts from case studies, facts supporting a new paradigm, facts against doing it the same old way, and even facts in a letter to the editor. Love me some facts.
The second part of the title is "Practice What We Publish." The key to this statement is the "we" part. "We" is not DaiWai and the editorial board. "We" is the entire community of neuroscience nurses. Hence, you are part of the "we." Read the journal, and incorporate the facts into your practice. The authors have shared lessons learned. They have shared mistakes and successes. Don't make the same mistakes; go out, and make brand new mistakes! Oh, and make new successes too! Use the journal to your advantage, and then share your own findings.
In this edition of the journal, you will find some fascinating facts and perhaps some controversial facts-facts you can use right now and facts that still have to be sorted out a bit. Scientific journals are long-term conversations. I invite you to become part of the neuroscience nursing conversation!