Applications are Invited for the Position of JAPNA Editor-In Chief
Deadline: August 12, 2024
The JAPNA Editor-in-Chief collaborates with the Associate Editor, Managing Editor, the Editorial Board, the Publisher, and the APNA Board of Directors to develop journal content, policy, and a strategic plan to ensure a professional, relevant publication.
Applications should include a curriculum vitae and a letter of no more than 350 words outlining how the applicant would contribute to the management, prestige, and viability of the journal.
Send applications to APNA Executive Director Lisa Nguyen at inform@apna.org.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email of the next steps in the decision process.
About the Journal
Description
Nurses Turn to JAPNA for Cutting Edge Information on Psychiatric Nursing Practice, Education, and Research…
The Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) provides quality, up-to-date information to: promote psychiatric nursing, improve mental health care for culturally diverse individuals, families, groups, and communities, and shape health care policy for the delivery of mental health services.
JAPNA, a peer-reviewed journal, publishes both clinical and research articles relevant to psychiatric nursing. Authors describe critical and timely analyses of the emerging issues and trends in psychiatric nursing, and present innovative models of practice related to mental health care systems. JAPNA publishes original research and practice-focused articles as well as editorials, interviews, briefings, and letters to the editors. The Journal’s expert content provides psychiatric nurses with the most up-to-date evidence-based nursing practices, innovative therapeutic approaches, significant information trends, and useful, clinically-focused research in psychiatric mental health nursing and its related subspecialties.
In JAPNA, the reader will find timely, peer-reviewed content aimed at a wide audience of psychiatric nurses, advancing scholarship through:
- Education, clinical, and practice-focused articles
- Original research articles
- Features on topics such as health policy and psychopharmacology
- Significant news from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Practice-focused articles address important topics on:
- Psychiatric disorders and mental health including substance use and trauma
- Regulatory issues for psychiatric mental health nurses
- Staffing and other issues relevant to psychiatric mental health nurses
- Community mental health practice and emergency care
JAPNA publishes a blend of unique features and authoritative content making it one of the most respected publications in psychiatric nursing. The Journal also occasionally complements its broad coverage with supplements (with continuing education credit) on a particular mental health condition, including current treatments and management strategies. This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Aims & Scope
The Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) is the official journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and has the largest readership of psychiatric-mental health nurse academics and scientists, at RN and advanced practice levels, of any nursing specialty journal. A bimonthly peer-reviewed journal, JAPNA serves as a mechanism for global dissemination and dialogue among nurses and health care professionals involved in the science, education, and service delivery related to mental health and substance use conditions. The main goal of the journal is to publish scholarship (original research, review, and practice-focused articles that include continuing education credit, as well as brief reports, quality improvement, and discussion articles, and letters to the editors) that contributes both to knowledge development and continuum of care from mental health promotion and mental illness prevention to psychiatric treatment and recovery at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention across the lifespan.
JAPNA functions according to the highest standards of ethical publishing practices and offers innovative publication options. The journal adheres to COPE guidelines for publication ethics. The current Editor-in-Chief is Geraldine S. Pearson, PhD, PMH-CNS, FAAN and, starting January 2025, the Editor-in-Chief will be Michelle DeCoux Hampton, PhD, RN.
View the journal’s various indexing metrics.
Associate Editor Position Overview
JAPNA is fully owned by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) and is published under a contract with Sage Publications. The Associate Editor of JAPNA collaborates with the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing Editor, the Editorial Board, the Publisher, and the APNA Board to develop journal content, policy, and a strategic plan to ensure a professional, relevant publication.
The Associate Editor:
- Is appointed by the APNA Board of Directors and provides services under a contract with APNA.
- Works under the direction of the JAPNA Editor-in-Chief.
- Coordinates activities to assist in review of manuscripts, editorial decisions, and development of JAPNA issues 6 times yearly.
- Represents JAPNA at local, national, and international meetings as directed by the Editor-in-Chief.
- Assumes the responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief in the event of that individual’s inability to carry out her/his obligations until such time as the Editor-in-Chief is able to resume her/his duties or the APNA Board of Directors makes a decision on the appointment of a new Editor-in-Chief.
- Completes other journal-related activities as directed by the Editor-in-Chief.
The initial appointment is for a 2-year term starting in January 2025, which can be renewed by the APNA BOD. The JAPNA Editor-in-Chief will evaluate the Associate Editor 6 months after his/her appointment to assess contributions and discuss changes in the position. The position includes a stipend and support for required travel/conferences.
Associate Editor Qualifications
The successful candidate for the position of Associate Editor will:
- Have experience in psychiatric nursing
- Be a nurse
- Have a doctoral degree in nursing or other health-related discipline
- Be a member of APNA
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a(n):
- Solid professional standing (i.e., established career, recognized by others in the field).
- Working knowledge of APNA’s structure, function, mission, objectives, and long-range strategic plan.
- Expert knowledge of psychiatric-mental health nursing.
- Sound scientific judgment; ability to assess the quality of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method research papers.
- Strong publication history.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Expertise in mentoring others to write for publication.
- Ability to work under pressure and effectively meet deadlines.
- Experience related to manuscript review and the peer review process.
- Knowledge of or ability to learn manuscript publication processes.
- Knowledge of or ability to learn online manuscript management systems.
- Knowledge of or willingness to learn about publication ethics.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook/Email, PowerPoint).
- Editing expertise using APA formatting and the JAPNA Style Guide.
- Connection to the wider psychiatric nursing care community from which papers are recruited.
Associate Editor Duties
Coordinate activities to assist in review of manuscripts, editorial decisions, and development of JAPNA issues 6 times yearly.
- Participate in developing a special topic issue of JAPNA every 12-18 months.
- With the assistance of the Editor and Editorial Board, determine topics for special issues 12-18 months in advance of expected publication.
- Work with the JAPNA Editor and the APNA Board of Directors to appoint a co-editor with expertise in the topic for each special-topic issue. In collaboration with co-editor(s):
- Develop and post calls for papers for special-topic issues.
- Recruit qualified authors to contribute papers to special-topic issues.
- Provide assistance for authors as needed, including topic selection and editing assistance
- during manuscript development.
- Assist in determining table of contents for special-topic issues.
- Write one editorial yearly for JAPNA.
- Assign reviewers for all assigned manuscripts through the electronic editorial system (Manuscript Central). Monitor reviews and make decisions as to the disposition of these manuscripts.
- Collaborate with the Editor on difficult manuscript decisions.
- Keep track of author deadlines and contact authors who are remiss in submitting reviews.
- Adhere to production schedules and deadlines established by the Publisher.
Explore and implement methods to promote the journal.
Represent JAPNA at local, national, and international meetings as directed by the Editor-in-Chief.
- Attend the Annual JAPNA Editorial Board meeting at the APNA Annual Conference.
- Join the International Academy of Nurse Editors (INANE) and attend INANE annual conferences.
- Attend other conferences as deemed appropriate by the Editor-in-Chief and as the JAPNA budget allows.
- In collaboration with the Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Editor, develop abstracts for presentations at conferences related to publishing, editing, and professional writing.
Assume the responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief in the event of that individual’s inability to carry out her/his obligations until such time as the Editor-in-Chief is able to resume her/his duties or the APNA Board of Directors makes a decision on the appointment of a new Editor-in-Chief.
- Serve as leader of Editorial Board meetings if Editor-in-Chief is unable to participate.
- Work with Managing Editor to ensure the peer review process continues for submitted papers when the Editor-in Chief is not able.
- Work with Managing Editor and Publisher to assure continued production of journal issues when the Editor-in Chief is not able.
- Work with the APNA Executive Director to develop a call for Editor-in-Chief applications and selection of new Editor-in-Chief is needed. (This duty does not prevent the Associate Editor from applying for the Editor-in-Chief position.)
Complete other journal-related activities as directed by the Editor-in-Chief.
- Support the Editor-in-Chief in overall journal management, particularly in soliciting manuscripts, authors, and reviewers.
- Participate in strategic planning and contribute to setting the vision and direction for
- Serve as a reviewer and provide input to the Editor-in-Chief on areas of concern related to specific manuscripts.
- Collaborate with the Editor-in-Chief in mentoring current and aspiring authors.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as requested by the Editor-in-Chief.
