FIGURE
In March 2004, members of the Gastroenterology Nursing editorial board, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins publishing staff, SGNA executive director Mary Beth Hepp, and invited guests met in Philadelphia at the publisher's headquarters to design the 2004-2006 Gastroenterology Nursing strategic plan. The energy and enthusiasm was high and the end product is an innovative plan that continues to advance the journal as the leader in disseminating knowledge in the gastroenterology nursing specialty.
The meeting was facilitated by Mary Beth Hepp, executive director of SGNA, who led the group in thoughtful activities designed to elicit creative, yet realistic goals for the immediate future. The final outcome provided three main goals guiding the editorial and operational decisions for the journal over the next 3 years:
* Gastroenterology Nursing will be recognized in the international community as the premier GI nursing journal.
* Gastroenterology Nursing will be recognized as the quality publication for the science and practice of GI nursing.
* Gastroenterology Nursing's content will address the variety of needs and interests of the readers.
In response to these goals, some of the specific objectives include developing an International Advisory Council composed of gastroenterology nurses from the international community to serve as a link between Gastroenterology Nursing and potential authors. In addition to recruiting authors, these advisors can articulate the needs and challenges of potential authors in order to help minimize the barriers to successful publication. One initial step will be the introduction of an international column, highlighting clinical and research issues in gastroenterology nursing from around the globe.
Another objective is to promote the journal to other related nursing specialties. While this objective is currently implemented to some degree through editor networking at the International Academy of Nursing Editors, the group felt additional marketing to leaders of other nursing specialty organizations may provide additional recognition in the discipline. In addition, the new cover tag line, The Official Leader in Science and Practice, is being premiered in this issue to help clarify the value and high standards of our peer-reviewed journal when compared to other industry magazines.
Several ambitious objectives include increasing content volume from five to six articles per issue, with two continuing education articles per issue. These objectives can only be achieved with consistent submission of quality manuscripts from the gastroenterology nursing community.
The bottom line is that it takes the entire gastroenterology nursing community to implement these goals. Nurses must promote the journal to their colleagues, patients, vendors, and others interested in gastroenterology nursing issues. Institutional libraries, medical offices, and gastrointestinal units should be encouraged to purchase the journal for on-site reference. Nurses should write articles, sharing their expertise and experiences with patients for all levels of readers: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Potential authors who have given a presentation or expressed innovative ideas and views relevant to the specialty should be encouraged to write and submit their ideas for publication.
Gastroenterology Nursing is certainly recognized as a respected, credible source of knowledge for healthcare providers. But our potential is unlimited and the responsibility we hold is great. It will take the group-at-large to implement the strategic plan and to continue to move the journal in its tradition of excellence. Make a commitment to do your part through writing, encouraging other authors, and promoting the journal to your institution, colleagues, and vendors.