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The only constant is change
EDITORIAL The Only Constant Is Change
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s I contemplate the end of my tenure as editor of Journal of WOCN, I find it difficult to believe that this issue represents the culmination of 7 years of effort. When I took over the job from Dot Smith in 1993, I believed I was taking a real risk. The Journal was well written, published by a premiere firm (Mosby), and deservedly respected by the WOCN Society and others with an interest in enterostomal therapy nursing. As is inevitable with such projects, much has changed with the Journal. In my biased opinion, I believe I can look back on several significant accomplishments, including the division of the Journal into sections. In addition, I am proud to have continued the Options in Practice feature, originated during Dot Smith’s tenure as editor, and to have added the Spotlight on Research and Notes on Methodology sections. While to you, the reader, these features are meant to represent items in the Journal, to me they represent the hard work and vision of a remarkable Editorial Board, and I sincerely thank each of my colleagues for their efforts in making these sections and features clinically relevant, vibrant, and important. I am also proud of the Journal’s Instructions for Authors. For the Editorial Board, these instructions represent the culmination of a 7-year project to improve the Journal’s editorial process and to truly mentor novice authors. The sophistication of the articles has evolved during the past 7 years; this represents both the efforts of seasoned researchers and the contribution of initial works by clinical experts who have expanded their roles as clinical investigators and scholars. I wish to personally thank every author who has published in the Journal during my tenure. I thank you for sharing your vision and hard work with us, for surviving the arduous process of revision and review, and for allowing me to edit your work in a sincere (and hopefully successful) effort to present your hard work in a format that has an impact on the practice of your colleagues. During a transition meeting with Katherine Moore, the incoming editor, I was pleased to hear her express similar feelings about assuming the responsibilities of editor. However, I know that she and the Editorial Board will take the Journal places I have only dreamed of, and
some that go beyond my limited vision. I will remain “in the picture” as director of the WOCN Center for Clinical Investigation, as a potential author (my turn to revise), and as a loyal reader and cheerleader for the Journal and what it represents to wound, ostomy, and continence specialty practice. I have tried to be a good steward for this important piece of our estate. I have succeeded in passing this stewardship to an editor who will sustain and enrich this ongoing document of our practice. The new editor notes: To stay current and informed, challenged and energized, change becomes a necessary part of all of our professional lives. However, change in particular depends on a certain structural integrity to be effective. Such structural integrity is key to the viability of the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. The fine framework of supportive section editors—Mary Palmer, Barbara Pieper, and Kathy Brown—and the dedicated network of consulting editors and reviewers, all of whom have volunteered many hours of their expertise, have shaped a clinically relevant and academically challenging journal important to the wide and various readership. As editor, I will depend on the consultative support of these persons and the Executive Board of the WOCN Society to assist me in providing a critical practice link to the membership. Others laid the foundation for the Journal of WOCN, and under the guidance of Mikel Gray, the Journal has achieved a respected international reputation. As Dr Gray proceeds to the Center for Clinical Investigation and his new set of changes and as I begin the journey of editorship, the Journal and the Association will continue to grow and meet new challenges. I look forward to the new responsibility with a frisson of nervousness and excitement, knowing that I am fully supported by the WOCN Executive Board, the section editors and consultant editors, Mikel Gray, and, very importantly, the new managing editor, Dana Moore. Together, we will work to ensure that the Journal will continue to reach heights of clinical and academic excellence and be a credit to WOCN and to its publisher, Mosby. Thank you for welcoming me on board.
Mikel Gray, PhD, CUNP, CCCN, FAAN
Katherine Moore, RN, PhD
J WOCN 2001;28:3. Copyright © 2001 by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. 1071-5754/2001/$35.00 + 0 21/9/112291 10.1067/mjw.2001.112291
3
A
s I contemplate the end of my tenure as editor of Journal of WOCN, I find it difficult to believe that this issue represents the culmination of 7 years of effort. When I took over the job from Dot Smith in 1993, I believed I was taking a real risk. The Journal was well written, published by a premiere firm (Mosby), and deservedly respected by the WOCN Society and others with an interest in enterostomal therapy nursing. As is inevitable with such projects, much has changed with the Journal. In my biased opinion, I believe I can look back on several significant accomplishments, including the division of the Journal into sections. In addition, I am proud to have continued the Options in Practice feature, originated during Dot Smith’s tenure as editor, and to have added the Spotlight on Research and Notes on Methodology sections. While to you, the reader, these features are meant to represent items in the Journal, to me they represent the hard work and vision of a remarkable Editorial Board, and I sincerely thank each of my colleagues for their efforts in making these sections and features clinically relevant, vibrant, and important. I am also proud of the Journal’s Instructions for Authors. For the Editorial Board, these instructions represent the culmination of a 7-year project to improve the Journal’s editorial process and to truly mentor novice authors. The sophistication of the articles has evolved during the past 7 years; this represents both the efforts of seasoned researchers and the contribution of initial works by clinical experts who have expanded their roles as clinical investigators and scholars. I wish to personally thank every author who has published in the Journal during my tenure. I thank you for sharing your vision and hard work with us, for surviving the arduous process of revision and review, and for allowing me to edit your work in a sincere (and hopefully successful) effort to present your hard work in a format that has an impact on the practice of your colleagues. During a transition meeting with Katherine Moore, the incoming editor, I was pleased to hear her express similar feelings about assuming the responsibilities of editor. However, I know that she and the Editorial Board will take the Journal places I have only dreamed of, and
some that go beyond my limited vision. I will remain “in the picture” as director of the WOCN Center for Clinical Investigation, as a potential author (my turn to revise), and as a loyal reader and cheerleader for the Journal and what it represents to wound, ostomy, and continence specialty practice. I have tried to be a good steward for this important piece of our estate. I have succeeded in passing this stewardship to an editor who will sustain and enrich this ongoing document of our practice. The new editor notes: To stay current and informed, challenged and energized, change becomes a necessary part of all of our professional lives. However, change in particular depends on a certain structural integrity to be effective. Such structural integrity is key to the viability of the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. The fine framework of supportive section editors—Mary Palmer, Barbara Pieper, and Kathy Brown—and the dedicated network of consulting editors and reviewers, all of whom have volunteered many hours of their expertise, have shaped a clinically relevant and academically challenging journal important to the wide and various readership. As editor, I will depend on the consultative support of these persons and the Executive Board of the WOCN Society to assist me in providing a critical practice link to the membership. Others laid the foundation for the Journal of WOCN, and under the guidance of Mikel Gray, the Journal has achieved a respected international reputation. As Dr Gray proceeds to the Center for Clinical Investigation and his new set of changes and as I begin the journey of editorship, the Journal and the Association will continue to grow and meet new challenges. I look forward to the new responsibility with a frisson of nervousness and excitement, knowing that I am fully supported by the WOCN Executive Board, the section editors and consultant editors, Mikel Gray, and, very importantly, the new managing editor, Dana Moore. Together, we will work to ensure that the Journal will continue to reach heights of clinical and academic excellence and be a credit to WOCN and to its publisher, Mosby. Thank you for welcoming me on board.
Mikel Gray, PhD, CUNP, CCCN, FAAN
Katherine Moore, RN, PhD
J WOCN 2001;28:3. Copyright © 2001 by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. 1071-5754/2001/$35.00 + 0 21/9/112291 10.1067/mjw.2001.112291
3