As we close the journal year of 2017, I am pleased to provide our readers with an update on the success of Rehabilitation Nursing. Our journal reflects the best of evidence-based clinical practice and research in our specialty area. Many thanks to all who contributed to a good year for the journal.
January 2017 ushered in some major changes for the journal. First, we said a fond farewell to Elaine Miller, our esteemed Editor in Chief of many years. Elaine is credited with advancing the quality and reach of RNJ beyond what many thought possible. At the same time, we welcomed a new editorial assistant, Melissa Bellows, whose excellent skills and hard work moved us forward in positive ways. We also transitioned to a new publisher in January 2017, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a division of Wolters Kluwer. We have enjoyed working with Lippincott Williams & Wilkins on some new promotions for the journal, including expanding the content on the journal's website. As an example, there is a short interview that I was honored to do (in conjunction with my editorial) with world-famous mountaineer Chad Jukes on his experience with climbing using a lower limb prosthesis. Please take a look at the journal website for interesting videos and other media to go along with our regular articles.
One of the most significant accomplishments announced this year was the dramatic increase in the impact factor. With the assistance of the RNJ Board and publisher, we have successfully increased the impact factor of the journal from 1.156 in 2015 to 2016's impact factor of 1.769! The impact factor is a measure of frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year. Thank you to all that contributed to this increase, particularly our former Editor, Elaine Miller, and current Associate Editor, Linda Pierce. This is an amazing accomplishment.
During this year, the author guidelines were reviewed and updated. Additional reviewers were recruited and transferred over to the new editorial management system when we switched publishers. Letters to authors were also reviewed and revised as needed. All these transitions represent positive changes for the journal.
Journal submissions have increased, with 209 manuscripts submitted in the first 10 months of 2017. We are steadily increasing our visibility both nationally and internationally, with submissions from 31 countries as of October 2017, presenting about one third of submissions to the journal. Overall, we have been able to reduce the backlog of articles and still accept those of the highest quality for publication. Consequently, the wait time from acceptance to publication has been decreased significantly.
In 2017, we had two focused issues: (1) alternative and complimentary therapies and (2) an international issue that represented work from 11 different countries. For 2018, I am pleased to report that we will have a special issue on cancer rehabilitation (with guest editors Grace Campbell and Bev Riegle) in the summer and another focused issue on orthopedics and rehabilitation.
Finally, I would like to personally thank Melissa Bellows, our competent Editorial Assistant, for keeping us all on task and Linda Pierce, our Associate Editor, for her wise guidance and insight. My sincere thanks go to the RNJ Editorial Board members for their commitment and many hours of volunteering for our journal: Joan Alverzo, Deborah Almauhy, Lelia Barks, Terrie Black, Michelle Camicia, Grace Campbell, Michele Cournan, Theresa Green, Julie Pryor, and Leslie Neal-Boylan. Thank you for your tireless efforts and countless hours of volunteering to make our journal great. We are looking forward to another impressive year of RNJ. Last, thank you to all of our reviewers:
Kristen L. Mauk, PhD, DNP, RN, CRRN, GCSN-BC, GNP-BC, ACHPN, FAAN
Editor-in-Chief
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, CO
The author declares no conflict of interest.