You may be wondering what happened to your AJN.  Why will you no longer receive this nursing journal?  You are among many members who are concerned because the publication they have relied on for many years is suddenly no longer a member benefit.  The decision to change publications has been a well-thought and thoroughly researched one in a process that began years ago. 

The current publishing contract between ANA and Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins (LWW), which publishes the American Journal of Nursing (AJN), ends in September 2006. Between July and November 2003, ANA engaged in exclusive discussions with LWW about the future of the partnership after the current agreement ends. The key issue was how ANA would continue to finance AJN subscriptions once the designated fund from the 1996 sale of AJN is depleted. Membership dues have never paid for subscriptions to AJN. Those discussions, as well as subsequent discussions in the summer of 2005, did not identify a financial solution. Therefore, ANA issued a Request for Proposals to major publishers in August 2005. A key criterion of the RFP was a favorable financial proposal with the goal of achieving budget neutrality for ANA.

ANA has signed an agreement to partner with HealthCom Media (HCM) to produce a new periodical, American Nurse Today. American Nurse Today will be the official journal of the ANA. Members will receive the new periodical as a benefit and non-members and institutions will have the opportunity to buy subscriptions.

The publication will have a contemporary feel and will offer a mix of news, clinical updates, business consults and continuing education. It also will have an online component available to members only through its own Web site. In addition, each issue will feature peer-reviewed, scholarly content. The periodical will feature five pages of ANA content each issue, with the remainder to be developed by HCM with the input of ANA.   ANA and HCM will work together to appoint the Editor-in-Chief and the editorial advisory board to shape a compelling editorial product that will appeal to members and attract both paid subscribers and advertisers.

ANA realizes the importance of a professional journal to the association and its members and believes that American Nurse Today is that exciting new journal.   For more information on American Nurse Today, please visit www.nursingworld.org.