Home Healthcare Nurse: The Interdisciplinary Journal for the Home Care and Hospice Professional (HHN), the official journal for Clinical Practice of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA), is peer-reviewed. All HHN content is directed toward home care and hospice professionals, and the "Commentary" column offers readers the opportunity to share opinions, important information, "lessons learned" or specific experiences that others want to read on the Commentary page.
Merriam-Webster (2012) defines the word commentary as:
* A record of events usually written by a participant.
* A systematic series of explanations or interpretations.
* Something that serves for illustration or explanation.
* An expression of opinion.
Benefits of Sharing for the Author
The benefits of submitting a commentary include:
* Sharing a special experience or opinion.
* Possible recognition toward relicensure and recertification.
* Expand friendships and hear from colleagues and readers across the United States and possibly around the world.
* Seeing your name in print.
Who Should Write Commentary?
HHN welcomes submissions from:
* New and experienced home healthcare and hospice nurses;
* Physical, occupational, and speech therapists;
* Medical social workers;
* Home health aides;
* Chaplains;
* Students who have a clinical experience with a home care or hospice agency;
* Volunteers;
* Patients and family members;
* Faculty;
* Supervisors/managers; and
* Administrators.
What Should You Write?
Write about
* What you know or experienced.
* A challenging patient and how quality care was provided.
* A specific successful (or less than successful) outcome.
Examples: My funniest day as a home healthcare nurse; my most memorable patient or family; providing care during an emergency situation
* A current "hot topic."
* The impact of current funding priorities and regulations on your practice.
* Patient outcomes of current best practice for a specific nursing challenge.
* New or existing programs, procedures, or tools used in your home health and hospice agency.
Suggestions for Authors
When writing a commentary, you should:
* Use your own words and write in everyday terms. The editorial staff will assist with the "wordsmithing" details.
* Do not assume that others know what you know. Share so that readers can benefit from what you learned in a specific situation.
* Include personal writing or journaling as part of your day in addition to what you need to accomplish to meet documentation requirements.
* Plan ahead. Editors work months in advance. If you have an experience that relates to a time of the year such as the holidays you need to allow time for review and comment prior to publication.
* HHN is a peer-reviewed journal. The editor sends your manuscript to at least three reviewers for comment and suggestion. When the editor receives these reviews the decision to accept, revise, or reject your manuscript and comments are shared with you. Reviewer's comments are helpful and need to be incorporated into a revision since suggested additions/changes improve the manuscript for publication.
* Check the HHN Web site (http://journals.lww.com/homehealthcarenurseonline) for the list of topics for 2013 and Author Guidelines.
* E-mail the editor with your ideas for a commentary (or article).
This "Commentary" page is your opportunity to share your opinions and experiences. Everyone has something to share. The editor looks forward to hearing from you!
Peer Reviewers-Thank You for Your Time and Commitment to Excellence
Each year many of your home care colleagues serve as reviewers for Home Healthcare Nurse. They contribute their expertise to assist in the peer review of manuscripts, books, and videos. The editorial staff offers a special thanks to those who served as reviewers in 2012.
Nancy Allen, BSN, RNC, CMC
Patrice Artress, PhD, RN
Cherie M. Asgeirsson, RD, LDN
Deborah S. Boroughs, MSN
Theresa Brereton, MS, RD, CDN
Sarah Via Browning, DNP, RN-BC
Verna Benner Carson, PMHCNS, BC
Kathleen Cervasio, PhD, ACNS-BC, CCRN, RN
Arlene Chabanuk, MSN, RN, CDE, HCS-D
Jackie Crossen-Sills, PT, PhD
Rebecca Davidson, MSN, RN
Mary Deeley, MS, BSN
Kathy Duckett, RN, BSN
Cindy L. Farris, MSN, MPH, BSN, RN
Anita Finkelman, MSN, RN
Soozi Flannigan, RN, MSN, APRN-BC
Muriel Foos, RN
Susan Fowler, RN, PhD, CNRN, FAHA
Lisa Gorski, MS, APRN, BC, CRNI
Kelley Hall, RN, CHPN
Catherine Halsey RN, BSN, RPCV
Marilyn Harris, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Margery Harvey-Griffith, MS, RN
Lynda S. Hilliard, MBA, RN, CHC
Melinda Huffman, RN, MSN, CCNS
Warren Herbert, RN
Teresa Kelechi, PhD, GCNS-BC, CWCN
Jennifer Kennedy, MA, BSN, RN
Irena Kenneley, APRN-BC, PhD, CIC
Marjorie S. McCaskey, RN, MSN
Margaret McDonald, MSW
Mary McGoldrick, MS, RN, CRNI
Judith Mitiguy, RN, MS
Leslie Neal-Boylan, PhD, CRRN, APRN-BC, FNP
Mary Narayan, MSN, APRN, BC, CTN
Gladys Polzien, MSN, RN, CHPN
Charlene Quinn, RN, PhD
Jennifer Riggs, PhD, RN
Cathy Sasser, RPh
Teresa Jones Schleimer, MSN, CCRN, CNP
Denise E. Skinner, RN, BSN
Rebecca B. Smarr, PT, COS-C
Rachel Smith, RN, MSN
Tina Smith, RN
Elizabeth Tanner, PhD, RN
Martha Tice, MS, RN, ACHPN
Carolyn Viall, MSN, RN
Jean T. Walker, PhD, RN
Sandy Whittier, MSN, RN, BC
Rhonda Marie Will, RN, BS, COS-C, HCS-D
Lynn Yetman, RN, MA, HCS-D, COS-C, CRNAC, LNC
Carole Yeung, RN, CIC
Judith S. Young, MLS
-Marilyn D. Harris, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
REFERNCE