Developing a Journal Article, Article Writing Example

I intend to write a journal article that focuses on alternative methods of education in nursing.  Specifically, I will examine alternative methods of education such as online and distance learning that reflects on my own experiences as a nurse clinician attempting to find the right work/life balance while pursuing further education.  As such, my article will explore the development of online/distance education in North America, the reasons why students choose such educational methods, the challenges and barriers to the successful completion of online/distance programs, and the implications that alternative educational methods have for nursing education.  This topic is especially relevant given that one of the current concerns in Canadian nursing is the ability to attract and retain nurses with advanced degrees.  Online and distance programs provide a flexibility that accommodates the multiple obligations, both professional and personal, faced by Canadian nurses; this gives them the opportunity to pursue their educational aims with less disruption than if they enrolled in more traditional programs, and ultimately creates a better educated workforce for the Canadian health care system.

I have previously explored the topic of nursing education in Advanced Trends and Issues in Nursing.  My major paper for this course examined the history of nurse education in Canada.  Although online/distance education made up only a small portion of this paper, the research I conducted during the course piqued my interest in exploring the manner in which new technologies facilitate non-traditional educational methods, especially as they apply to older students who have already established careers in nursing.  This article will build upon my research of the educational history and needs of Canadian nurses while focusing directly on the most current trends in online and distance education.

My article would be appropriate for publication in The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, The Journal of Nursing Education, and The Canadian Journal of Nursing Research.  I have chosen to target The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing when submitting my article for publication.  Their ‘Instructions for Authors’ is very detailed, but reads in part as follows:

The Mission of The Journal of Continuing Education in Nurs­ing is to support continued career competence through continuing educa­tion, staff development, professional policy, and advocacy.

The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing advances the body of knowledge, theory, and methods about continuing competence in nursing by: (1) disseminating relevant and critical perspectives pertinent to the practice in the field; (2) evaluating the impact that issues in health care, nursing, and education have on the field; (3) reporting research find­ings resulting from studies conducted in the field; and (4) analyzing career development issues related to competence and learning. (Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 2009)

Although the JCE publishes a variety of articles, including research articles, columns related to specific activities or practices, and letters to the editor, my own article would be most suitably categorized as a non-research article that fits with the following guidelines:

Non-research Articles are thought pieces or describe ideas and experi­ences that can be adapted by continuing education and staff development professionals and applied to or tested in settings other than the author’s. This format is also appropriate for projects that started as research endeavours but had a small sample size. Non-research articles should contain an unstruc­tured abstract of no more than 150 words summarizing the main points of the article.

Whenever possible, submissions should have broad implications, in­cluding national and global perspectives. When terms that are specific to one country or institution are used, are used, an accompanying sidebar defining those terms should be included. If there are relatively few distinctive terms, they may be defined in the text. (JCEN, 2009)

References

Canadian Journal of Nursing Research. (2011). McGill School of Nursing. Retrieved from mhttp://cjnr.mcgill.ca

The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing: Continuing Competence for the Future. (2009). Information for authors. The Wyanoke Group. Retrieved from http://www.jcenonline.com/PDFs/JCENinfoauth.pdf

The Journal of Nursing Education. (2011). The Wyanoke Group. Retrieved from http://www.slackjournals.com/about.aspx?pid=jne