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An Unforeseen Path from Critical Care Nurse to Editor-in-Chief of American Journal of Nursing


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In this episode, Senior Clinical Editor, Lisa Bonsall, MSN, RN, CRNP speaks with Carl Kirton, DNP, RN, MBA, Editor-In-Chief of the American Journal of Nursing.

Highlights of the conversation include:

  • Carl’s career journey and diverse nursing experiences, including his first manuscript submission, which was to the American Journal of Nursing (AJN)

  • His new role as Editor-in-Chief of AJN and a focus on maintaining and growing the reputation of the journal while meeting the needs of the contemporary nurse; updates include new columns on diversity, equity, and inclusion and the wide variety of nursing specialties, as well as exciting changes to artwork

  • Words of wisdom to nurses to “keep your options open” and “don’t be afraid of change.”

Carl-Photohigh-res2-1-(1).pngCarl Kirton is the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Nursing the profession’s leading voice of nursing since the 1900s. He earned a BSN from Lehman College in 1986 and a MA in Nursing Education from New York University (NYU) in 1992 and post-master’s certificate as an adult nurse practitioner from NYU in 1996. He received a doctorate in nursing practice from Case Western University in 2008 and a Master’s in Business Administration from St. Peter’s University in 2012. Dr. Kirton is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nursing at Seton Hall University.

Dr. Kirton has diverse nursing experience including critical care nursing, HIV-AIDS nursing, ambulatory care and nursing leadership. He has held several nursing clinical and operational leadership roles including nurse educator, advanced practice nurse, nurse manager, and director of nursing. Dr. Kirton has more than 15 years of experience as a chief nurse executive in academic medical and safety net facilities. He is an outstanding nurse educator with adjunct faculty appointments at New York University, Rutgers University, Temple University and Philips School of Nursing. 

His scholarship includes significant contribution to the science of HIV-AIDS and other topics in presentations, research, published articles, books, book chapters, online materials, and timely editorials in nursing and healthcare. His contributions include serving as associate editors of Journal of Association of Nurses in AIDS Care and the Journal of LGBTQ Health and Population Health. 

Dr. Kirton integrates his work in nursing leadership, practice, education, and policy in service to the profession as evidenced by ongoing service as President, Board of Advisors, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing in addition to serving on multiple editorial boards for peer-reviewed journals, as well as Past President and other Board of Director positions on multiple organizational boards. His contributions have been distinguished with multiple recognitions and awards including the Distinguished Alumni, Estelle Osborne, and Joseph and Violet Pless Faulty Research in HIV Nursing awards from New York University and honored by the New Jersey Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. 

Dr. Kirton has a strong passion for educating and mentoring nurses to be leaders and embracing initiatives to improve equity in healthcare. He is known to mentor leaders in their professional development and achievement of their career goals. In his spare time, he is a voracious reader of fiction and non-fiction works, a patron of the theatre and spends his leisure time in perfecting his interest in garment construction and tailoring.


Transcript