Dear Readers,
This will be my last issue as editor of the Journal of Nursing Care Quality.
Nineteen years ago, in 1984, following the publication of a book on nursing care quality, I was asked by a publisher at Aspen Publishers to edit a newly envisioned journal. The goals of the journal were to promote and extend a body of science regarding quality improvement, to demonstrate the quality focused work being championed in the profession of nursing, and to package that all in a publication that would compete with the best and live out a high quality image. On my agreement, the vision was charted, an editorial board established, issue themes scheduled, and papers solicited.
Volume I, Issue I, was mailed in November 1986. Originating under the name of the Journal of Nursing Quality Assurance (changed to the Journal of Nursing Care Quality with Volume 11 in October 1996), the first theme was "Balancing Quality and Cost." Article titles included
- Larson and Peters. "Integrating Cost Analyses in Quality Assurance."
- Crisham. "Ethics, Economics, and Quality."
- Lewis et al. "Downsizing: Measuring its Effect on Quality of Care."
- Gross. "A Quality and Cost Control Model for Managing Nursing Utilization."
- Beyers. "Cost and Quality: Balancing the Issues Through Management" [horizontal ellipsis]to name but a few.
Isn't it amazing to see the relevance of these topics to today's world? The field and leaders in health care quality improvement have been addressing the issues of our time for a long time. While it would be a dream to find old concerns resolved, there is comfort in knowing that the field (and the journal) have been tackling them head on.
In all, we have published 75 issues (73 regular and 2 special editions) to date (about 675 papers), mostly as a quarterly, with volumes 14 through 16 being 6 times a year. In addition, for 14 issues, JNCQ included a newsletter, Pat Schroeder's PI-3,-Performance Improvement, Ideas, and Innovations-providing sound bites on quality strategies.
It is a bittersweet experience to transition the editorial leadership of this journal to new hands. I am immeasurably grateful to Aspen Publishers and our new publisher, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, for the support and opportunities they have accorded. What a privilege to experience the role of a journal editor. I am also in awe of the knowledge, selfless efforts, and enthusiasm of the experts who served on the editorial board as well as authored papers. My thanks to you all for your many contributions to the fields of nursing and the quality science. I look forward to continued colleagueship in different capacities.
JNCQ is charting a course for new horizons, and I celebrate its rich history, its exciting future, and its important role in health care. And I likewise, enthusiastically, engage in new beginnings as well.