Welcome to the year 2023! We pray God's blessings on you in this coming year as you seek to serve him. The wise king Solomon wrote, "A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel" (Proverbs 1:5, NKJV). Know that we are working hard to provide an excellent year of journal issues for you.
In this first issue of the year, we are introducing a new column on nurse coaching. This is a growing field in which nurses may consider training and certification, especially suited for Christian nurses because of their unique approaches to care. This first column defines professional nurse coaching, fundamentals, where nurse coaches may work, and differences between nurse coaching and other types of coaching and counseling. Plans for future columns include more on nurse coach training, learned skills, and certification. Descriptions of appreciative inquiry and motivational interviewing as important techniques will be expanded upon, along with discussions of interventions and holistic caring approaches.
Other distinct types of coaches exist in sports, academics, business, and even spiritual coaches. Yet nurse coaching is an evolving role whose time has come. Healthcare leaders have sought to improve patient satisfaction, create more person-centered care, and heighten positive quality outcomes. The concept of nurse coaching fits right in. Providing guidance and resources, nurse coaches build on their patients' strengths in place of focusing on weaknesses. Nurse coaches partner with clients using whole person care principles including body-mind-spirit-emotion to help achieve wellness. Nurse coaches experience high satisfaction rates in their positions working with individuals or groups. They may become certified and now can seek insurance reimbursement for their work. One can find many references to Jesus as a coach. Jesus asked probing questions, a coaching technique. He created trust with his followers, another coaching principle. Jesus' questions helped his followers to deeper insights, learning, and personal growth.
As we enter 2023, we are all aware that COVID still affects our lives and especially impacts the work of nurses. Many nurses have suffered burnout as a result of COVID. The feature article, "COVID-19 Caregiving, Quality of Life, and Stress Among Faith Community Nurses and Faith Leaders in Appalachia," looks specifically at care strategies used during the pandemic along with the perceived stress and life quality among faith community nurses and leaders.
Another valuable article in this issue is "Fostering Resilience in Nursing Through R.E.S.T.," offering self-care strategies for nurses. R.E.S.T. stands for Relationship, Exercise, Self-Compassion, and Transformative thinking, helping to foster resilience for nurses within a Christian perspective. In "A Faculty Member's Journey Back from Burnout: An Attitude Adjustment," Marlene Sefton provides Scripture to positively adjust one's attitude for teaching, using such attributes as grace, humility, flexibility, and enjoyment. Spiritual resilience is also addressed in two columns.
Another theme in this issue involves end-of-life issues. In "No One Dies Alone," the authors describe a novel hospital-based volunteer program that provides caring human presence at the end of life when nurses may not be able to be at the bedside. In the Online First article, "Strategies for Virtual Bereavement Care," nurses can grow skills in supporting and facilitating culturally relevant rituals for virtual bereavement care.
On a note about chronic disease, "The Impact of Diabetic Education on Diabetes Management: A Retrospective Chart Review" describes spiritual interventions to assist clients, new information on continuous glucose monitoring, and a successful 8-hour educational intervention that reduced HgbA1C levels. On another note, an important feature includes "A Faith-Based Intervention to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults," as social isolation has become a much-discussed topic for care of older adults. A unique Online Exclusive article is devoted to "Care of Patients with Service or Therapy Animals."
These are but examples of the many feature articles, columns, and continuing education available to you in this rich issue. It is our hope that you will enjoy and benefit from the many features of this journal issue.
Finally, another special feature in this issue is the announcement of the Reviewers of the Year and a JCN writing contest. Along with this announcement, we wish to thank all our reviewers again for their dedication to JCN.