APNA Names Geraldine S. Pearson Editor in Chief of Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Falls Church, VA (PRWEB) September 09, 2015 -- The American Psychiatric Nurses Association today announced that Geraldine S. Pearson, PhD, APRN, FAAN will serve as the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA), effective January 1, 2016. Dr. Pearson brings years of experience as an editor and nursing leader to JAPNA, a bi-monthly peer-reviewed publication with an international circulation of nearly 13,000.
“The APNA Board of Directors appointed Dr. Pearson based on the recommendations of the committee which conducted an extensive search and considered an incredibly strong group of candidates,” said APNA President Susie Adams, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FAANP. “At an exciting time of growth and increased visibility for the journal, it was paramount to secure an editor who could build upon current momentum. With her prior experience as an editor as well as her clearly defined vision for developing JAPNA, the Board of Directors feel confident that Dr. Pearson will be successful as Editor-in-Chief of JAPNA in meeting readership interests across diverse settings and roles while retaining the quality and rigor of the journal.”
Pearson, who is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, is currently an associate professor at University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Child/Adolescent Division. She has been the Editor of Perspectives in Psychiatric Nursing since 2008, where her publications have focused on editorials and nursing practice issues. Dr. Pearson recently assumed the position of co-vice chairperson of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), a London-based charity organization that establishes guidelines and recommendations for interdisciplinary publication ethics issues throughout the world.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr. Pearson said: “My appointment as the editor-in-chief of JAPNA presents an exciting opportunity to work with an association journal that includes a membership from all ranges of psychiatric nurses involved in practice, education, administration, and research. I hope to craft a journal that meets a broad range of member needs while maintaining a professional, evidence-based focus. While this may be challenging I am eager to work with all who are committed to APNA, its mission, and the challenges of meeting the needs of a diverse membership.”
Dr. Pearson holds a BSN (1976) and MSN (1978) from the University of Cincinnati. Her PHD (2002) is in nursing research from the University of Connecticut School of Nursing. In addition to her faculty position at the University of Connecticut, she also serves as the director of the HomeCare Program (a short term psychiatric management program for adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system), chairperson of the School of Medicine Admissions Committee, and former assistant training director for the child psychiatry fellowship program. She also maintains a university based clinical practice as a psychiatric prescriber for children and adolescents.
The naming of Dr. Pearson as successor to current JAPNA Editor-in-Chief Karen Farchaus Stein was the result of extensive work by a committee composed of APNA members at RN and advanced levels who represent a variety of psychiatric-mental health nursing practice settings as well as geographic regions. Over the course of a year and a half, the committee conducted a thorough search guided by information from surveys of the membership and focus groups with APNA leadership that included council chairs, the current editor-in-chief, and members of the editorial board.
The Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) is a peer-reviewed bi-monthly journal publishing up-to-date information to promote psychiatric nursing, improve mental health care for culturally diverse individuals, families, groups, and communities, as well as shape health care policy for the delivery of mental health services. JAPNA publishes both clinical and research articles relevant to psychiatric nursing. JAPNA was recently selected for inclusion in Thomson Reuters indexing with one of the highest impact factors of psychiatric-mental health nursing journals: 0.977. JAPNA is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is a national professional membership organization committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. APNA’s membership is inclusive of all psychiatric mental health registered nurses including associate degree, baccalaureate, advanced practice (comprised of clinical nurse specialists and psychiatric nurse practitioners), and nurse scientists and academicians (PhD). APNA serves as a resource for psychiatric mental health nurses to engage in networking, education, and the dissemination of research.
Meaghan Trimyer, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, http://www.apna.org, +1 571-533-1931, [email protected]
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