Should Nurses Try to Get Published?
When we think about nurses getting published, our thoughts naturally turn to nurses in academia doing research or teaching. However, being published is actually for everyone.
Any nurse has the opportunity to be published, which can open the doors of possibility and reveal unforeseen career opportunities.
Why Get Published?
Dottie Roberts, EdD, MSN, MACI, RN, OCNS-C, CMSRN, CNE, has been the editor of the MEDSURG Nursing journal since 2002 and sees getting published as an equal opportunity.
“We think of publishing as something done by researchers and academics,” Roberts states. “However, all nurses are responsible for communicating information about practice innovations, particularly those impacting patient outcomes.”
Roberts continues, “Publishing allows nurses to share their knowledge and expertise and provides the foundation for evidence-based practice. Peer-reviewed journals offer an excellent medium for publication because of their high standards and wide readership.”
Roberts encourages a focus on peer-reviewed journals affiliated with nursing specialties.
“Dissemination of our experiences is critically important to benefit other nurses in their practice,” Roberts submits. “We share the results of our quality improvement or evidence-based activities or describe our encounters with patients with uniquely thought-provoking diagnoses.”
She adds, “We need to communicate research results to help nurses understand current challenges and mold future practice. Presenting at a conference is valuable, but publication benefits the profession more broadly by reaching a wider audience and building a body of literature that benefits current and future practitioners.”
For an individual nurse’s career, Roberts sees many potential benefits.
“Being a published writer brings recognition. Peers admire the nurse’s knowledge but also the ability to bring that knowledge to the profession. Along with presentations, publication can be recognized within clinical ladders and impact the potential for promotion. For nurses seeking entry into a competitive graduate program, being a published author brings an application additional attention.”
Roberts adds that sharpening writing skills can lead to career opportunities such as freelance writing, which can help a nurse earn extra income while educating others.
She describes her first major publication as “a book chapter for my member organization, the success of which gave me the confidence to take on other writing assignments for that association but also to write for national nursing textbooks and international journals.”
“I wrote exam prep materials and white papers for nursing certification programs. One opportunity led to another, and I know many nurses who have followed that same path in building their writing skills and resumes as reliable, effective authors.”
But How Do I Get Published?
Roberts advises, “Writing for publication requires work, but it’s open to anyone willing to devote the time to create an excellent product, and it’s not reserved solely for academics.”
“Nurses don’t need to be researchers to have a message worth sharing.” Roberts reflects. “Before that book chapter, I wrote a reflection for my hospital newsletter about a patient who had touched me greatly through her resilience.”
She continues, “I know every nurse has unforgettable patients, and experiences with those patients can inform peers and keep memories of patients alive. While journals don’t always publish personal reflections, they often publish case studies informing readers about specific patient care situations. Turning a reflection into a case study is a great way to start as a novice author.”
When seeking the right publication, Roberts states that editors always look for valuable topics for their readers. She recommends nurses familiarize themselves with specific journal styles and audiences to find the best fit for their writing.
She advises, “Although not all publications require it, you might submit a query letter explaining how your manuscript would benefit the journal’s readers. After the work of writing, finding the right publication will make acceptance much less difficult.”
Getting Involved
Nurses interested in being published can get involved in workplace projects and initiatives that lend themselves to being captured in writing. In this regard, Roberts shares:
“Quality improvement and EBP activities represent great opportunities for authorship. For example, clinical nurses may be involved in QI efforts to prevent falls or decrease CAUTI.”
“Readers are always looking for innovations to improve the quality performance of their units and may choose to replicate a project they read about. A nurse involved in developing a new policy can synthesize the relevant literature in a systematic or narrative review. Nurses who have returned to school often implement capstone or DNP projects in their practice settings; these reports also make great manuscripts.”
Where to Begin?
If you’re wondering how to get started, consider these steps shared by Dr. Roberts:
- Identify journals representing your specialty
- Examine journals’ websites for author guidelines, topic wish lists, and types of articles the journals seem to prefer
- Submit queries about topics you’re considering writing about
- If an editor is uninterested, ask for a referral to a more appropriate publication
- Identify yourself as a novice author, and ask directly if the editor and editorial board mentor less experienced writers
Roberts states, “At MEDSURG Nursing, we give a writer’s award each year to a first-time author to recognize this important step in professional growth. Unfortunately, there is no list of novice-friendly publications I can identify, but there’s no substitute for simply communicating with editors. The editor is likely hearing from readers and editorial board members and knows very well what topics would be valuable to them.”
The importance of finding the right journal cannot be overstated. “It all goes back to identifying the right journal for your planned writing effort,” Roberts concludes. “It may take some patience and willingness to try again if you receive an uninterested response. However, if you identify a topic that would be helpful to you and your peers, chances are other nurses would also benefit from its publication.”
In the final analysis, being published can help nurses gain recognition, advance in their career, and contribute to the growing body of nursing literature. While it may not be for everyone, the experience of being a published author can offer a significant career boost and a sense of great personal and professional accomplishment.
