As this issue of Advances in Nursing Science (ANS 21:2) goes to press, I am particularly aware of the many ways in which the global scope of this green planet seems to be shrinking. Almost daily I enter the realm of cyberspace to browse the World Wide Web, tapping into resources from every corner of the earth. For a good portion of each year I welcome to my home friends from countries far away, and meet new international friends at conferences and meetings. More frequently than I would have ever anticipated, I board an airplane bound for lands that I once thought of as distant and exotic, only to find that within a few short hours I stand on land that feels familiar, see the same moon in the sky at night, and find nurses who share vast common grounds of understanding.
Our planet is home to an array of people, cultures, and governments, each with his or her own unique health challenges and issues. Those who are called nurses in each culture reflect important and distinguishable traits that are unique to their homelands. However, we share the common mission of caring for those who are sick and protecting the health of our neighbors. When we have the opportunity to come together, we find much that we can learn from one another. We also realize the many ways in which our nursing cultures span the boundaries of time and space. Like those in many other disciplines approaching the turn of the century, nurses worldwide are reaching out to bring together the perspectives of east and west, north and south, to expand our awareness of what is possible beyond the boundaries of our local communities.
In a recent conversation with Margaret Newman, she reflected on the experience of having a colleague from Japan recognize ideas within Newman's theory as similar to traditional ideas from Japan. This common phenomenon reflects a global consciousness that we are now able to explore more fully, given the ease and access of global communication and travel. Our similar thoughts, ideas, and inspirations affirm nursing's perspective of oneness and wholeness. At the same time, the more deeply we explore our various contexts, languages, and the fullness of our conceptual meanings, we find an amazing array of rich meanings embedded within that which is also similar.
In my view, a global perspective is essential for the health of our planet, our nations, regions, communities, families, and our selves. The place where we each sit, stand, and walk on the planet is both literally and figuratively a microcosm of the entire world around each of us. Each time we take an individual step to heal and protect our selves, our neighbors, our relationships with others, or our environments, we also contribute to global health and healing.
The articles in this issue of ANS address global issues of health and healing and also perspectives on nursing practice that have both local and global implications. As your own thoughts and ideas arise in response to these articles, please write to share your ideas. After all, ANS is a global journal. Nurses all over the world will benefit from what you have to say and the ideas that you have to share. In this way, you can participate in a global dialogue that can enrich and expand each of our perspectives, bringing our awareness to a broader and fuller scope.
Peggy L. Chinn, RN, PhD, FAAN
Editor