September and fall herald the beginning of many traditions and new starts. School starts again: perhaps you are going back to finish a degree, teach, or start the new semester or once again resume the ritual of your children returning to school. With the new beginnings of fall, I would like to spend some time talking to you about HHN and how you can be an active participant in its further development and growth. This is also a time when we might pause and reassess what we would like to learn about further and accomplish in our professions.
Robert Frost said, "Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence." There are always new things we can learn, and so many different tracks and areas of interest that nurses and other clinicians can seek to learn about. When I visit colleges of nursing and see the new skill labs, all of the computers and other technology, the incredible mannequins, the specifically crafted seminar and other educational rooms, I am in wonder at the changes that have occurred since I attended nursing school. I always think, these new students have it made!! But then I think of the fundamentals and look at what is in the bookcases, the book titles, the stethoscopes and bandage scissors the students are carrying, and I know that some things fundamentally do remain the same. But there is no question that they are learning in an enlightened time and in special environments. We too must continue our lifelong learning in this environment.
We are reassured that we cannot know it all; the important thing is that we get to a level where we "know enough to know what we do not know," and then we call in someone who does know. That acquired skill comes with experience and time. As we move toward more evidence-based practice, all kinds of ongoing education are key to learning about many aspects of our practice. Home Healthcare Nurse strives to provide education through the offering of CEs for certain articles. What I would like to hear from you is what we can do to provide you with information and education that you or your organization specifically seeks. Kindly e-mail me at [email protected] if there is a topic or area of interest that you would like to know more about and read about in HHN.
We have subscribers who use the journal for their journal clubs; if you are seeking an article on a particular aspect (or wish to contribute one for review) on home care practice or operations or hospice care provided at home, share it with us at HHN. I want to hear your thoughts and educational needs. Remember, this is your journal, and we wish to share the wisdom of the best of home health and hospice care. We are seeking to become more like the practice of home care and hospice--more interdisciplinary and inclusive of all the clinicians, managers, and others who care for and support financial and other operations.
I believe that P4P will further solidify merging of all operations for success in home care. With that in mind, we added a new column this year entitled "The Business of Home Healthcare." We want to hear from your CFO, therapy managers, billing experts, coders, staffing supervisors, administrators, and others who are key to (seemingly) seamless daily business operations. Should you seek to write or need information on a particular topic, I look forward to hearing from you.
September starts me thinking about the themes for 2007, which will be here before we know it!! Included with this month's editorial are the 2007 editorial themes. We want to see your performance improvement or other projects that were of benefit shared in those issues. We can all learn something from each other, and reading is one way to do that. If you have a manuscript to contribute on a particular topic (ie, on pediatrics for the January issue), please e-mail it to me at least 3 to 4 months before publication. I am always happy to answer any questions you have about topics, their development or organization, or other queries via e-mail.
For those who seek to start writing and say, "I would never to be able to do that"--you can do it. Every home health nurse can tell a story--look at the Commentary on the last pages of most issues. They are stories of experiences or the humanity found in practicing healthcare in people's homes and communities. For those of you who think, "I could never write something that others would want to read"--I challenge you to think of your most rewarding patient (or home care experience); lessons learned; and your worst, best, or funniest day in home care. These Commentaries are poignant tales from the field. They are "your say," and we want to hear from you.
And just start writing!! Starting is the hardest part. They say the best writers have great (the best) procrastination skills, so you are not alone. Please do not tell anyone, but when I sit down to write the 4th or 5th editions of books, I am stuck until the deadline looms closer and then I am "unstuck," almost like magic, but we'll keep that between us. Believe that you can write, do the work, and submit it. The last part is the hardest--to let it "go"--get to that point and you'll see!!
Have a great September and think about submitting to your journal, HHN. I welcome your queries and submissions!!
Tina M. Marrelli