We are excited and proud to launch this new journal, the Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal (AENJ). Our goal is to present information of special interest to clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, educators, and other advanced practice clinicians in emergency care. To that end, we have assembled a wide variety of manuscripts for this first issue, including the history of advanced practice roles in emergency nursing, in-depth clinical articles on pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and low back pain, the emergency department implications of pertussis vaccine, monitoring patients during transport to inpatient units, choosing the right graduate program, fostering caring practices in the emergency department, interpreting pediatric chest x-rays, the challenges of faculty practice, and curriculum issues in graduate education programs. Future issues of AENJ will continue to encompass a wide range of topics in addition to four ongoing columns: Research to Practice, Radiology Rounds, Applied Pharmacology, and Cases of Note. We have chosen not to present "themed" issues in general so that we can have the flexibility to address issues in as timely a fashion as possible. And, there will be continuing education contact hours offered in each issue.
We would be remiss to launch the Journal without mentioning three nurses who have had a significant impact on emergency nursing and specifically on advanced practice roles in emergency nursing: Judy Kelleher, Anita Dorr, and Frank Cole. Judy and Anita cofounded the Emergency Department Nurses Association (now the Emergency Nurses Association). Since 1970, the Emergency Nurses Association has grown to a membership of more than 30,000 with far-reaching national and international influence regarding issues pertaining to emergency care and healthcare in general. Judy ultimately became an advanced practice nurse herself and finished her career as a nurse practitioner in a primary care setting. At the chronologically gifted age of 80+, Judy continues to attend and participate in Emergency Nurses Association activities with her characteristic straightforward, no-nonsense approach to issues. We value her as a mentor and a friend. Frank was a driving force in the education and utilization of both nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists in emergency care. His boundless energy inspired many students and colleagues to reach farther, do more, and try harder. We are honored that one of his last professional works appears here, in the inaugural issue of AENJ. Cancer may have won the battle for his body but his spirit lives on.
In closing, we hope that advanced practice emergency nurses will share their innovative approaches to practice along with their knowledge and experience by writing and publishing in AENJ. And, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the contributors and reviewers for their efforts and diligence in preparing this first issue. We eagerly anticipate future manuscripts from advanced practice emergency nurses.
K. Sue Hoyt, RN, PhD, FNP, APRN,BC, CEN, FAEN
Emergency Nurse Practitioner St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, CA
Jean A. Proehl, RN, MN, CEN, CCRN, FAEN
Emergency Clinical Nurse Specialist Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH