In 1978, Jimmy Carter was president of the US; the first computer bulletin board system was created; Saturday Night Fever and Grease were the top-grossing films; Louise Brown, the first "test-tube baby" was born; and the National Intravenous Therapy Association (NITA) launched its first issue of the journal, NITA.
The forerunner to the Journal of Infusion Nursing, NITA had relatively humble beginnings, but in 30 years grew to become the premier journal for the infusion therapy profession. INS would like you to see for yourself the changes in infusion therapy over the years by offering articles from NITA, the Journal of Intravenous Nursing (which followed NITA), and earlier versions of the Journal of Infusion Nursing. Throughout 2007, INS will celebrate 30 years of infusion nursing scholarship by including the original articles from our older journals with the each current issue of the Journal of Infusion Nursing. We'll even include some of the ads that will really take you back!!
In 1978 there was a dearth of information available to nurses on what was then called intravenous therapy. Most skills were learned on the job, and it wasn't until the 1970s that the topic of IV therapy was addressed as a nursing specialty. In 1973, NITA was formed, the first national organization dedicated to intravenous therapy. As membership grew, the organization solicited manuscripts from NITA members and other healthcare professionals, and in 1978, the new NITA journal was born.
In the early issues, topics ranged from "Documentation of IV Therapy," to "Impact of an IV Team on Patient Care," to "Home Hyperalimentation." Some of the issues featured nursing crossword puzzles!! Jump ahead nearly 30 years, and the Journal of Infusion Nursing articles include "Management of the Patient Receiving Parenteral Biologic Therapy," "Intravenous Medication Safety and Smart Infusion Systems," and "Proteasome Inhibition in Cancer Therapy." How times change.
The Journal of Infusion Nursing is changing with the times, too. Beginning with this issue, the Journal will feature two new columns each month. IV P.U.M.P. (Politically Useful Messages for Practicing Nurses) will keep readers informed about the latest public policy issues of interest to the nursing profession. This month's IV P.U.M.P. column concerns "Pay for Performance." Lisa Gorski, MS, APRN, BC, CRNI(R), FAAN, and INS President-Elect, will discuss some of the INS Standards from the 2006 edition of Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice in "Speaking of Standards[horizontal ellipsis]."
During our anniversary year, each issue will include a guest editorial by previous JIN authors. I'm honored to have Judy (Terry) Hankins, 1978-1979 NITA President, as our first guest editor. Her passion and continued involvement with INS have never wavered. Her leadership and vision, along with that of her fellow board members, were instrumental in recognizing the importance an association publication would have in creating a sustainable future for the organization.
Although over the past 30 years, the Journal's name has changed, the cover has been redesigned, and research and technology have advanced, the passion and desire to share knowledge has not. The specialty of infusion nursing depends on the publication of the science and evidence that supports our practice. Here's to another 30-plus years of publishing success!!
Mary Alexander, MA, RN, CRNI(R), CAE