After 25 years as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Infusion Nursing (JIN), I'll be retiring from this position at the end of 2022, so this is my farewell editorial. I am proud not only of JIN's 45 years of existence, but also of its reputation in the spheres of nursing and health care publications.
As the flagship publication for INS, access to JIN is a highly rated member benefit. Although the topic of infusion nursing may seem limiting, the depth and breadth of the specialty practice and the articles published are vast. JIN provides a platform to share knowledge and expertise, document evidence-based practice and research, and disseminate scholarly work.
JIN has evolved since it was first published in 1978 as NITA, The Official Journal of the National Intravenous Therapy Association. In 1987, NITA changed its name to the Intravenous Nurses Society, calling out "nursing" in its name. As a result, the publication's name became the Journal of Intravenous Nursing. In 2001, INS' official name was changed to the Infusion Nurses Society to better reflect the comprehensive nature of the specialty practice, resulting in another title revision for the publication to the Journal of Infusion Nursing. Also that year, JIN's mission was defined: to seek to promote excellence in infusion nursing by presenting new research, clinical reviews, case studies, and professional development information relevant to the practice of infusion nursing. In 2008, the tagline, "The Art and Science of Infusion Nursing," was added to further define JIN's brand.
Once available only as a print publication, JIN is now online. Its digital format allows features such as embedding videos and other supplemental digital content within an article. Through the years, there have been special focus issues, covering topics including cancer care, pediatrics, and professional development. Supplements have also been published, with the most notable being the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. Selected issues offer Nursing Continuing Professional Development contact hours, accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and CRNI(R) recertification units.
Before I sign off, I want to thank the many individuals (and I apologize if I forget anyone, it's not intentional) who have contributed to JIN's success and longevity. First, a big thank you to INS members, who are central to supporting the organization. The work that you do affects patient care and promotes the safety and quality of infusion nursing here in the United States and globally. Thank you to JIN readers as well, including INS members and nonmembers. You continue to demonstrate the growing need to pivot from a U.S.-based publication to one with a global perspective. And thank you to our industry partners, including those who support JIN with advertising and supplements.
I would also like to thank the Board of Directors for its support of JIN's mission. And to authors, thank you for the studies you have contributed, your willingness to share your research findings, and your candor when offering perspectives in guest columns and features. Peer reviewers, you are subject-matter experts who offer constructive feedback that strengthens each submitted manuscript and provides clarity for the reader. Thank you for your continuing efforts in upholding the integrity of the research that we publish.
This year, JIN established its inaugural Editorial Review Board, and we are grateful for its engagement. A special thank you to Lynn Brown, Gail Dammert, Angie Malone, and Theresa Wicklin Gillespie, who have made our meetings constructive. You are instrumental in performing manuscript reviews, supporting manuscript acquisition, and advising the editors on the vision, direction, strategy, and evidence-based focus of JIN. I would also like to thank my editor colleagues of the International Academy of Nursing Editors (INANE), who provide wisdom, guidance, and collegiality. INANE, an international collaborative, is a collective of nursing editors and publishers focused on meeting the practice, research, and education needs of the nursing profession. Its mission closely aligns with that of INS in promoting best practices in publishing and high standards in nursing journals, books, and web-based literature.
To the staff at Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (WK/LWW), our trusted publishing partner since JIN's inception, thank you. Through the years, I've had the pleasure of working with phenomenal WK/LWW publishers, including Lisa Marshall; Sandy Kasko; Kathleen Phelan; and, currently, Randi Davis, Senior Publisher. Many thanks as well to Maureen Howard, Production Editor. And a special thank you to Jenn Brogan, Vice President of Global Journal Publishing & Society Solutions, for supporting JIN's growth, and most importantly, for her friendship.
Finally, thank you to Chris Hunt, who serves as INS Executive Vice President, and the INS Publications Department: Dawn Berndt, Director of Publications and Education Design; Michael Miller, Associate Managing Editor; and Rachel King, Editorial Production Coordinator. From overseeing the financial impact of non-dues revenue from advertising, reprints, permissions, royalties, and marketing JIN to the publications staff soliciting and assisting authors, navigating the submissions process, copy editing, and reviewing page proofs-the list goes on. After all your efforts, an appealing, glossy informative issue is released every other month.
I'm leaving JIN in great hands. The INS Board of Directors has appointed Dawn Berndt, DNP, RN, CRNI(R) as Editor-in-Chief, effective January 1, 2023. As the current JIN Managing Editor, she has a clear understanding of the vision for JIN and what's needed to advance and grow this scholarly publication well into the future.
I'm "turning the page" in this chapter of my professional career and am honored to have been Editor-in-Chief for the past 25 years. I encourage you to keep turning JIN pages and finding ways to apply the knowledge you gather to your increasingly critical practice. Thank you for fond memories, wonderful articles, and the ability to grow JIN into the trusted source that it is today.
Mary Alexander