Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 36:1, 2015 Copyright © 2015 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. ISSN: 0161-2840 print / 1096-4673 online DOI: 10.3109/01612840.2014.970475
FROM THE EDITOR
Reviewers Invited: Mentoring Provided. Please RSVP! Sandra P. Thomas, PhD, RN, FAAN, Editor
Too often my daily e-mail brings a resignation letter from another reviewer. In some cases, that resignation letter brings a long relationship to an end. Some of my reviewers have been with me since I became the Editor of Issues in Mental Health Nursing, in 1997. With a sigh, I acknowledge their resignations and thank them for their faithful service. I fully understand that these colleagues have chosen a transition into a new phase of life, in which they are leaving professional responsibilities behind. They plan to explore the world, engage in community service, and have fun with their grandchildren (not an exhaustive list!) and I wish them well in their retirement. But I still have 160–180 manuscripts that need expert peer critiques each year. I need your help. To ensure continued excellence of this journal as we head into our 36th year, I must replace the retirees. I am seeking applications from individuals who would like to become reviewers. I will make you a deal you cannot refuse! I invite you to join our Mentored Reviewer Program. Five years ago, I launched this program after hearing of similar programs for non-nursing journals. Members of the Issues in Mental Health Nursing Editorial Board were asked to identify graduate students and excellent psychiatric nurse clinicians, and send me their names. Further, they agreed to mentor these nominees during their first manuscript reviews. Mentees were asked to compose a draft review, submit it to their mentor, and then make any necessary corrections or additions based on the mentor’s feedback. The final polished review was then uploaded to Manuscript Central. The benefit to the mentee was receiving a blind copy of my disposition letter to the author, which included all reviewer comments. That gave the mentee the opportunity to see what the other reviewer(s) recommended, as well as the actual editorial decision on the paper.
Participants in the Mentored Reviewer Program have been universally enthusiastic about this learning experience. They love comparing their reviews to the comments of the other reviewer(s) and the editor. Some review just one manuscript and decline to continue involvement, due to pressing demands of dissertation research or a new appointment as a tenure-track assistant professor. Other mentees have continued to review, with increasing confidence in their critiques. Some have now moved into the regular review panel. One has even moved into the role of Book Review editor. The first year of the Mentored Reviewer Program, 26 mentees enrolled, hailing from Australia, Norway, Sweden, and the USA. They were mentored by 17 experienced manuscript reviewers. In succeeding years, we have averaged about two dozen new mentees annually. But the number dropped in 2014 and hence, this editorial. I continue to believe that the Mentored Reviewer Program is the best way to prepare inexperienced individuals to provide solid, constructive critiques that benefit both the editor and the author of the manuscript. If you are an inexperienced manuscript reviewer and would like to become involved in the Mentored Reviewer Program, you can e-mail me directly at: [email protected]. If you are an experienced reviewer and would like to become a mentor, please volunteer. If you cannot serve as a mentor but have a good nominee, that’s fine too. I look forward to hearing from you.
Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
1
Copyright of Issues in Mental Health Nursing is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
FROM THE EDITOR
Reviewers Invited: Mentoring Provided. Please RSVP! Sandra P. Thomas, PhD, RN, FAAN, Editor
Too often my daily e-mail brings a resignation letter from another reviewer. In some cases, that resignation letter brings a long relationship to an end. Some of my reviewers have been with me since I became the Editor of Issues in Mental Health Nursing, in 1997. With a sigh, I acknowledge their resignations and thank them for their faithful service. I fully understand that these colleagues have chosen a transition into a new phase of life, in which they are leaving professional responsibilities behind. They plan to explore the world, engage in community service, and have fun with their grandchildren (not an exhaustive list!) and I wish them well in their retirement. But I still have 160–180 manuscripts that need expert peer critiques each year. I need your help. To ensure continued excellence of this journal as we head into our 36th year, I must replace the retirees. I am seeking applications from individuals who would like to become reviewers. I will make you a deal you cannot refuse! I invite you to join our Mentored Reviewer Program. Five years ago, I launched this program after hearing of similar programs for non-nursing journals. Members of the Issues in Mental Health Nursing Editorial Board were asked to identify graduate students and excellent psychiatric nurse clinicians, and send me their names. Further, they agreed to mentor these nominees during their first manuscript reviews. Mentees were asked to compose a draft review, submit it to their mentor, and then make any necessary corrections or additions based on the mentor’s feedback. The final polished review was then uploaded to Manuscript Central. The benefit to the mentee was receiving a blind copy of my disposition letter to the author, which included all reviewer comments. That gave the mentee the opportunity to see what the other reviewer(s) recommended, as well as the actual editorial decision on the paper.
Participants in the Mentored Reviewer Program have been universally enthusiastic about this learning experience. They love comparing their reviews to the comments of the other reviewer(s) and the editor. Some review just one manuscript and decline to continue involvement, due to pressing demands of dissertation research or a new appointment as a tenure-track assistant professor. Other mentees have continued to review, with increasing confidence in their critiques. Some have now moved into the regular review panel. One has even moved into the role of Book Review editor. The first year of the Mentored Reviewer Program, 26 mentees enrolled, hailing from Australia, Norway, Sweden, and the USA. They were mentored by 17 experienced manuscript reviewers. In succeeding years, we have averaged about two dozen new mentees annually. But the number dropped in 2014 and hence, this editorial. I continue to believe that the Mentored Reviewer Program is the best way to prepare inexperienced individuals to provide solid, constructive critiques that benefit both the editor and the author of the manuscript. If you are an inexperienced manuscript reviewer and would like to become involved in the Mentored Reviewer Program, you can e-mail me directly at: [email protected]. If you are an experienced reviewer and would like to become a mentor, please volunteer. If you cannot serve as a mentor but have a good nominee, that’s fine too. I look forward to hearing from you.
Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
1
Copyright of Issues in Mental Health Nursing is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
