The Journal of Infusion Nursing is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and it's been fun tripping down the memory lane of such a wonderful publication and dynamic organization (INS). I refer to both because they've gone hand in hand while growing together over the years to represent a highly respected specialty nursing practice.
While preparing for this editorial, I took the opportunity to skim through many years of the Journal. My collection dates back to 1978, when I first became a member of the National Intravenous Therapy Association and started receiving the Journal as part of my membership benefits.
The Infusion Nurses Society and the Journal of Infusion Nursing have changed over the years. Change is not necessarily a bad thing; it brings new opportunities and experiences, new looks, and new wisdom. Both INS and the Journal have undergone some of the same metamorphoses that we humans go through as we age. We've seen the name of the Journal change from NITA to the Journal of Intravenous Nursing to the Journal of Infusion Nursing. As we sometimes do, the Journal altered its look over the years to update it and make it more attractive. The Journal also went through lean years when it was difficult to attract articles and the advertisements to maintain it. Through it all, however, the Journal persevered and today is an excellent example of a high-quality professional specialty journal.
INS and the Journal have sought to enhance the professional image of the infusion nurse and provide a forum for education. Both of these topics were themes of my presidential years, and we have come a long way in achieving these goals. Education continues to be a priority because the practice of nursing in general and infusion nursing in particular is rapidly evolving with research and technological advances.
Evidence-based practice is the latest buzz phrase. Our practice has been and continues to be based on evidence-based practices, as represented by the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice. Changes in the Standards are considered when there is sufficient written documentation to substantiate the change. Members of INS and the infusion nursing community are always encouraged to document their daily practices through publication, especially when their practice differs from a standard and has proved to be successful.
Publishing our practices helps to advance the practice of infusion nursing by educating ourselves and others in the healthcare setting. If you review past articles in the Journal, you'll see a 1979 article on "Intravenous Therapy Consideration in the Burn Patient," a 1984 article on "Considerations for Neonatal IV Therapy," a 1986 article titled "The IV Team: Impact on Patient Care and Cost of Hospitalization," a 1999 article on "Reuse of Single-Use Equipment: The Intravenous Nurse Specialist's Role in Institutional Policy," and a 2007 article entitled "A Proactive Approach to Combating Venous Depletion in the Hospital Setting." Each of these articles provided information on which we can base our current practice.
The Journal of Infusion Nursing (with its predecessors) and the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice have set the standard nationally for the practice of infusion nursing. They have been and continue to be cited by others when describing the quality of infusion care a patient should receive. This has helped to advance the image of the infusion nurse as a specialist. I am proud to say that INS and its publications are recognized nationally and internationally as the authorities in infusion nursing.
Thirty years is a time for celebration, and it should be a celebration of excellence for all that we have accomplished. We have come a long way, baby, and yet we still have a long way to go. We must always strive to continue improving our professional image. We cannot rest on our laurels. Maybe we will be able to say we've made it when there is an infusion team or nurse in every setting in which infusion nursing is practiced and each of these nurses is credentialed in the practice of infusion nursing. Until that time, we must continue to share our growing knowledge through publication. I take this opportunity to encourage each of you to consider publishing in the Journal of Infusion Nursing. We are all doing something a little different from other practitioners, and what we do just may be the key that someone else needs to enhance her or his practice.