Premier Nursing Research Journal

Moves to the NIH's 18th-Seated

School of Nursing

Contact: Pam Roe
S218 School of Nursing
(573) 884-2690

September 19, 2006

COLUMBIA , Mo. – Yes, one of the MU Sinclair School of Nursing's researchers was highlighted in a summer issue of O: The Oprah Magazine , but the Western Journal of Nursing Research (WJNR) is coming to the MU Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Vicki Conn, associate dean of research, becomes the journal's editor January 1, 2007.

“This is one of the premier nursing research journals in the world,” Conn said. “Moving it to the University of Missouri-Columbia recognizes the School's growing research success.”

The School's research success is also reflected in the most current National Institutes of Health (NIH) nursing research schools rankings. This month the School was ranked 18 th in the nation in NIH grant expenditures. As the competition for these research funds is fierce, the ranking is viewed by many as a determination of research excellence.

“As a school, we have been in the top 20 percent of nursing research institutions in three of the past four years,” Conn said. “This combined with the WJNR moving to the MU Sinclair School of Nursing puts us on the map as a school that conducts and contributes to the top nursing research being compiled throughout the world.”

Conn has been the WJNR's associate editor since 2002. She was chosen from a field of highly qualified candidates to eventually be the journal's editor at that point, but has spent the past five years in the stages of a gradual transition.

As an accomplished researcher, Conn was already familiar with the submission procedure from the writer's point of view. In typical research journal style, researchers submit their manuscripts online before they go through the peer review process. The end result is usually a revise-and-resubmit reply, but on rare occasion manuscripts are accepted first time around and there are those that are rejected.

“Taking on this responsibility means a lot of work,” Conn stated. “However, this is so important it is worth doing. You don't turn down this type of opportunity.”

After becoming associate editor, Conn created an editorial board which helps with specific topics and issues. A first for this journal. Another first that she instigated was a how-to section about how to put together a well-done grant, the first time around.

Both ideas have been successful during the past several years and also well received by the journal's readers.

The journal is published by SAGE eight times per year. In step with today's technological advances, cutting-edge methodology articles are submitted on-line. Conn makes the content decisions, while SAGE staff handles the actual editing of the manuscripts. SAGE is recognized throughout the health-care industry for the “green books” it has published for years.

“This move and the current NIH rankings says, ‘We are a research intensive program',” Conn said.

-30-