In this issue, we highlight 3 exciting changes to the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing: (1) our format has changed; (2) we are now the official journal of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA); and (3) the journal is now affiliated with the American Heart Association, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing (CCVN). We are particularly proud of our affiliation with these 2 exceptional professional cardiovascular organizations. One of the best ways to become more engaged in cardiovascular nursing as a clinician, researcher, educator, or policy-maker is to develop your professional identity by joining and becoming active in a specialty professional organization such as PCNA or the CCVN. You can join both of these organizations by visiting their Web sites (http://www.pcna.net for PCNA, and http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1148 for the CCVN).
With regard to the changes you will see in the journal, first, you will notice that we have a new format and look. Previously, each issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing was devoted to a single topic. Although this allowed in-depth coverage of important topics, we found that more and more we were unable to accommodate the many fine manuscripts we received that did not fit into a given topical issue. Recognizing the need for a high-quality outlet for original research and clinical reviews of cardiovascular topics, we along with the Editorial Board and publisher of the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, decided to begin accepting unsolicited manuscripts on all cardiovascular topics. We will still feature intermittent and abbreviated topical issues. In addition, there are physical changes: the cover page has changed. The size is now the standard 81/2 by 11 in. size rather than the "book size" of years past. The frequency of issues published will increase from 4 to 6 each year. And, with the change to the full size journal format, we will be able to publish more articles in each issue.
The second change is our new association with the PCNA. PCNA is a forward-thinking organization dedicated to the development and promotion of nurses as leaders in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The goals of PCNA are the following:
* To provide opportunities for professional development within the medical, educational, and political arena
* To promote public and political awareness of the role of nurses as leaders in this field
* To promote public and political awareness of cardiovascular disease prevention
* To achieve third-party reimbursement for preventive cardiovascular nursing services
* To foster productive liaisons with professional organizations sharing similar goals
* To support research in cardiovascular disease prevention
As the official journal of PCNA, we are delighted to feature a section in every issue that will include PCNA information related to membership, abstracts, meetings, and scientific advances in prevention of cardiovascular disease. We will also feature a prevention department, Progress in Prevention, that is edited by 2 eminent PCNA members, Laura Hayman, RN, PhD, and Suzanne Hughes, RN, MSN. Although Dr Hayman and Ms Hughes are well known to the members of PCNA, we would like to introduce them to our other readers and describe why this noted researcher and excellent clinician were chosen to edit this important new column.
Dr Hayman is a Professor in the Division of Nursing, Steinhardt School of Education at New York University and Director of Integrative Cardiology at the Center for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Medicine, Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute, New York. Laura's program of research focuses on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with emphasis on children, adolescents, and families. Research in progress includes an interdisciplinary multisite study designed to examine genetic and behavioral determinants of risk for heart disease in black and white families. She has also examined innovative methods of bringing the message of prevention out into the wider community. Laura has published her work widely, including here in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, where she has served as a member of the Editorial Board since 1998.
Suzanne Hughes, an advanced practice nurse, is the Coordinator of the Women's Heart Advantage Program at Akron General Medical Center. Her distinguished clinical career includes a long history of cardiovascular practice focused on prevention. Suzy has engaged in research, practice, publishing, and speaking endeavors devoted to improvement of outcomes in individuals with lipid disorders. She is a well-recognized expert in this area and a noted advocate for a wide range of prevention efforts. We think that you'll agree that choosing Laura Hayman and Suzy Hughes to edit this important new column in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing was an excellent decision. Please read their inaugural column featured in this issue of the journal.
Our third change is the affiliation of the journal with the American Heart Association CCVN. The CCVN is 1 of 13 professional councils within the American Heart Association. The CCVN is dedicated to supporting the American Heart Association mission to reduce death and disability from cardiovascular disease and stroke. The Council works to identify and articulate areas in which nurses can lead in the accomplishment of the American Heart Association mission. Members of the CCVN work to achieve this goal through their involvement in many activities including research, education, publication, clinical practice, collaboration, leadership, and advocacy.
The goals of the CCVN are
* To conduct research and develop knowledge related to the prevention of and biobehavioral adaptation to heart disease and stroke
* Increase utilization of cardiovascular research findings through dissemination
* To structure liaisons with consumers (patients, those at risk and their families, the media, and policy-makers) to support the American Heart Association mission.
* To educate all consumers to calculate their risk assessment for cardiovascular disease and stroke and ensure consumer knowledge of the benefits of lifestyle interventions
* To identify and mentor potential leaders within the Council and across the organization
* To support American Heart Association advocacy efforts in NIH appropriations and other research initiatives
* To impact health policy at local, state, and federal levels
In coming issues you will see news from the CCVN in a special section devoted to highlights of the Council's work and future plans. At that time, we will introduce you to the CCVN member chosen to write this department. Reading this news you will have an opportunity to see the magnitude of the work done by the CCVN in their endeavor to reduce the negative impact of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
We would love to hear from you regarding your views of the changes in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. We appreciate your input and suggestions and welcome letters to the editors about any aspect of the articles you read in the journal. We also would like to invite all readers to consider submitting their clinical or research manuscripts for consideration for publication in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. It is our goal to publish the highest quality manuscripts as quickly as possible and to that end, we have streamlined our review process so that authors are now notified of editorial decisions within 8 weeks of submission of a manuscript. We intend to continue and expand the tradition of the journal as a premier outlet for cardiovascular topics and recognize the importance of readers and authors in this effort. By disseminating excellent work that is of interest and will be used by readers we can make substantial inroads in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and improve outcomes in individuals with cardiovascular disease.