As I reflect on the launch of Excellence and Credentialing in Health Care (ECHC), I find myself returning to a simple, yet powerful message: You can—and you should—write! Over the course of my career, I have spoken with countless nurses and health care professionals who have expressed interest in writing yet are hesitant to begin. The most common concerns are familiar: “I don’t know where to start,” or “I’m not a good writer.” Let me assure you—writing is not an innate talent reserved for a select few. It is a learned skill, much like any other competency in health care. We all communicate complex information every day—to patients, families, and colleagues. Writing is simply an extension of what we already do. More importantly, Your knowledge matters! Every clinician, educator, and leader has experiences, insights, and observations that can contribute meaningfully to our profession. Whether you have implemented a new practice, managed a challenging clinical situation, evaluated outcomes, or reflected on professional growth, these are all stories worth sharing. Publishing your work extends your reach far beyond your immediate environment. For example, giving a presentation on a particular topic may reach dozens or even hundreds of individuals; however, a published article has the potential to reach thousands—across institutions, disciplines, and even countries. Through publication, your expertise becomes part of the collective knowledge that advances health care. Writing is also personally and professionally rewarding. It allows you to: Share knowledge and improve patient care Deepen your own understanding of a topic Establish yourself as a subject matter expert Enhance your professional opportunities Contribute to the advancement of your specialty and the broader health care community If you are considering writing, the first step is simple: Start with what you know You do not need to begin writing by conducting and publishing a large research study. Valuable contributions to the profession take many forms, including: Clinical practice articles Evidence-based practice reports Quality improvement initiatives Literature reviews Case studies Professional reflections or narratives Editorial pieces At ECHC, we are particularly interested in manuscripts that explore competency, credentialing, professional development, and the impact of certification across health care disciplines. However, we welcome submissions on a broad range of topics that contribute to excellence in practice. If the process of creating a manuscript feels overwhelming, begin by narrowing your focus. Select a specific aspect of a topic with which you are familiar, outline your key points, and write a short summary of what you intend to communicate. From there, organize your thoughts into a logical structure—introduction, main discussion, and conclusion. Keep in mind that writing does not need to be perfect on the first attempt. It evolves through revision. I also encourage you to Write with confidence and an active voice! Your perspective is valuable! Speak with clarity and authority, grounded in both evidence and experience. This is what makes your work compelling and impactful. As Editor in Chief, I want to emphasize that you are not alone in this process. My role is not only to evaluate manuscripts, but also to support authors. To that end, I am committed to working with both new and experienced writers to help develop meaningful contributions for publication in our journal. I will leave you with this thought: Writing is not just an opportunity—it is a professional responsibility! As nurses and health care professionals, we have an obligation to share knowledge, advance practice, and contribute to the ongoing development of our disciplines. I strongly encourage you to take that first step. We welcome your ideas, your experiences, and your voice. You can submit your manuscript electronically at: https://www.editorialmanager.com/echc/default.aspx If you have questions, would like to discuss an idea, or need guidance in getting started, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at email protected. I look forward to reading your work. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Ann Van Wicklin, RN, PhD, CNOR, CRNFA(E), CPSN-R, PLNC, ISPAN-F, FAORN, FAAN Editor in Chief, Excellence and Credentialing in Health Care Conflicts of interest statement The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose. Funding source None.
Sharon Ann Van Wicklin (Fri,) studied this question.