TRANSFORMATIONS
Science and medicine have seen technological advances over the past century-and healthcare has also experienced such a metamorphosis-a transformation of structure and substance. As healthcare providers, we have seen many alterations in the appearance, character, circumstances, condition, and sometimes even the function of healthcare over the past few decades.
Trauma nurses have been no exception to this milieu of transformation. We recognize that change is, ironically, a constant. However, underlying any change in nursing is the constant of "care" and "caring"-and that is something which trauma nurses demonstrate with high levels of compassion and respect. No matter what the environment, nurses have always continued to care for, and provide care to, their patients.
We have been told to embrace and accept change. However, when the changes in our environment become almost overwhelming and highly stressful, it takes a strong nurse to deal with it and continue to provide competent, quality patient care. Nonetheless, that is what trauma nurses do on a daily basis, for distress and disruption are intrinsic to the definition of "trauma." Because trauma nurses are so adept at dealing with change, it is now time to present yet another metamorphosis occurring within the Society of Trauma Nurses.
Just as our environment of healthcare has evolved, so has the Journal of Trauma Nursing (JTN). It has gone through some changes recently and I am both excited and honored to be involved in this progressive publication. So I am pleased to introduce myself to you as your new editor of the Journal of Trauma Nursing. I am delighted to begin this new role and look forward to working with you all.
MEET THE EDITOR
My clinical nursing background comes from my experience as a perioperative nurse (clinician, manager, and educator). I currently work part-time as a surgical services education coordinator at Froedtert Hospital (a level 1 trauma center) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I also teach nursing at the Marquette University College of Nursing. In addition, I am a clinical nurse ethicist at the Medical College of Wisconsin (where I am also an assistant professor in the Department of Bioethics). My education includes BSN-Alverno College; MS-Education (UWM); MA-Bioethics (Medical College of WI); and PhD in Nursing from UW-Milwaukee.
As for my career in publishing. I have written many articles, book chapters, educational programs, and have also written a book entitled: "Practical Ethics for Nurses & Nursing Students." I worked for the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, editing the journal entitled Surgical Services Management as well as functioning as the consulting editor of Perioperative Services Management. Currently, I also edit an online journal, International Journal of Perioperative Care, which is published out of the United Kingdom.
I am involved in several professional organizations as a member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, Society of Trauma Nurses, American Nurses' Association, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Sigma Theta Tau, National Nursing Staff Development Organization, and the American Board of Nursing Specialties. At the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, I am on the governing council of the Trauma Nurse Specialty Assembly. I also sit on the board of directors for the Competency and Credentialing Institute in Denver. I have presented programs at nursing conferences both nationally and internationally on topics such as education, ethics, perioperative practice, leadership, and the image of nursing. I collect nursing memorabilia and this provides me with many interesting means of viewing nursing as a profession (ie, nurse comic books, textbooks, magazines, and toys). These items come in handy to illustrate aspects of the image, values, and role of the nurse in society.
THE JOURNAL OF TRAUMA NURSING AND BEYOND[horizontal ellipsis]
My hat is off to all of the previous editors of JTN. Their vision, decision making, and dedication have positioned JTN as a respected publication-not only within the scope of trauma nursing but also within nursing as a professional discipline. While their shoes may be difficult to fill, I plan to continue their tradition of excellence.
My vision for JTN includes supporting our current sections as well as examining other areas as identified by you, our readers. We will also examine legislative issues, international issues, ethics, research, book reviews, certification, education, critical thinking, and tips for trauma nurses. I see this journal becoming a definitive resource for the trauma nurse and a means to communicate best practices and standards of care to all trauma nurses.
In upcoming issues, JTN will provide information for the new trauma nurse or the new trauma nurse manager. We are planning a question and answer section entitled "Ask the Expert"-where you can submit questions or concerns to me and we will print answers and contacts in a column format in future issues, so please feel free to submit your questions at any time.
I believe that it is important to provide nurses with various means of dealing with stress and grief, especially in trauma environments, and I hope to develop more of this for the journal. I would like this journal to keep its place on the cutting edge of trauma care and practice and, as such, serve as a valuable guide for both new and experienced trauma nurses. I view nursing as a grand conglomeration of the nurse as clinician, manager, administrator, educator, researcher, collaborator, and leader. Nurses incorporate all aspects of these roles throughout their practice careers and I hope to be able to provide them with the information that they need to facilitate their practice and professional development.
But to do this, I need your help. I encourage you to consider writing for JTN. Please contact me as I would very much like to hear your ideas. I am happy to talk to each and every one of you and look forward to reading your articles and questions. You can contact me at [email protected] or [email protected].
METAMORPHOSIS
Although we continue to experience a metamorphosis in healthcare, we will also continue to grow, and to learn, and to provide excellent patient care. Who knows where the future will take us? We may not be able to predict the future, but we can influence it and create an impact on our profession. To create this preferred environment, all we have to do is be proactive and use our voices and pens to direct the change for the good of our patients. One means to direct the future is through our professional journal. I challenge you to create your own transformation via the written word. If, as Shakespeare said, "the penis mightier than the sword," then nurses with pens can be the mightiest change agents of all!
Kathryn Schroeter, PhD, RN, CNOR
Editor, Journal of Trauma Nursing