In the summer of 2019, after seeing a notice on Twitter announcing The Journal of Hospital Medicine's editorial fellowship (Wray et al., 2019), we were inspired to have an MCN editorial fellowship in 2020. A call for applicants was posted on Twitter and the MCN website in July with a deadline of November 1, 2019. We worked together to develop criteria and a list of planned mentored activities. As this was our first fellowship, we were flexible to allow us to meet the specific needs of our selected fellow. We received 22 emails about the fellowship, in general one of two types. About one-half of queries were from researchers in the academic setting who were mid-career or more asking if this opportunity would be preparatory for being a journal editor. The others were focused on whether they were be a good candidate, for example, a prescreening of sorts. Although we had not specifically decided against preparing an accomplished scholar to be a journal editor when designing the fellowship, our unspoken main intent was to help an early-career scholar in learning about what goes on the background of a nursing journal, with opportunities for mentored writing of peer reviews and a feature article. After discussion, we confirmed mentoring an early-career scholar was our goal, so we shared that information with the more senior scholars who were inquiring and made sure to include that clarity in the announcement for the MCN Editorial Fellowship for 2021. We anticipate the type of activities included as part of the editorial fellowship will promote fellows' success in future scholarship and publication of their work.

Requirements were a registered nurse with maternal or pediatric nursing experience, a master's degree or higher in nursing or related field, and the desire to learn about publishing in a nursing journal. We offered these experiences and expectations: complete at least six mentored peer reviews during the 12 months; participate in preparing a full issue of the journal with the editor-in-chief; in preparing the Toward Evidence-Based Practice column with the associate editor; in selection of MCN paper of the year awards; and prepare at least one mentored feature article submitted by the end of the fellowship. We asked for a curriculum vitae and a list of their personal goals. We received eight complete applications, all of which were from highly qualified nurses. This created a quandary as it was very difficult to choose just one. We decided we would make the time to have two fellows for 2020: Jennifer L. Heck, PhD, RNC-NIC, CNE, Clinical Assistant Professor, Fran & Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, OK; and Carrie Eaton, PhD, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CHSE, Assistant Professor and Director of Simulation Based Education at the University of Connecticut School of Nursing in Storrs, CT. The other candidates who were not selected were encouraged to apply this year and offered the opportunity for a mentored feature article. Six participated in an individual call with the editor to discuss the possibilities of their potential manuscript and two followed through with a manuscript that was published in MCN. The mentoring included multiple drafts, editing suggestions, telephone calls, and revisions. We did not require the mentored article to be submitted to MCN. We achieved all of the goals initially set forth despite being in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In November, we will select our 2021 MCN editorial fellows. This has been a positive experience for us and hopefully for the fellows as well. Interested candidates can expect a call for applicants next summer 2021 for the 2022 fellowship.

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