The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) is excited to announce the appointment of the editor-in-chief of the forthcoming Advancing Medical-Surgical Nursing journal. Janie R. Robinson, Ph.D., RN, CNE, professor, Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, has been selected to lead the new publication that aims to elevate the essential contributions of medical-surgical nurses, fostering innovation and excellence across the profession. AMSN members, as you prepare to access this new resource in spring 2025, get to know more about Dr. Robinson and her career in medical-surgical nursing.

AMSN: Congratulations on your appointment to the Advancing Medical-Surgical Nursing editor-in-chief position! Tell our readers a bit about your background and what led you to medical-surgical nursing.

Janie R. Robinson, Ph.D., RN, CNE (JR): I like to think that instead of me choosing medical-surgical nursing, medical-surgical nursing actually chose me. When I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I had my sights set on another area of nursing. My plans changed when I was offered a position on the medical-surgical unit instead. My work in medical-surgical nursing has been very rewarding. I have learned so much and have been able to give back through mentoring nurses and teaching nursing students.

AMSN: Research and evidence-based practice are vital to medical-surgical nurses’ careers. Why is research valuable to you? How has publishing and keeping up with the literature enhanced your career?

JR: Research is valuable to me because it is evidenced-based knowledge that informs practice. When this evidence-based knowledge is put into practice, it improves patient outcomes. Keeping up with literature has enhanced my career by keeping me abreast on current research and interventions that improve patient outcomes. This guides my research. Publishing allows me to disseminate my research findings so that others can use my research in practice to improve patient outcomes.

AMSN: What excites you most about the medical-surgical nursing specialty?

JR: I love that we can manage the care of patients experiencing different medical conditions and we are always learning. We also have the ability to function well with a larger number of patients.

AMSN: What advice do you have for nurses who are interested in contributing to the journal, either as authors or reviewers?

JR: We are the official journal of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN). If you are engaging in any research that can advance the knowledge of medical-surgical nursing, please consider submitting your research findings to our journal. Also, if you’re interested in becoming a reviewer for our journal, consider the valuable contributions you could make in the advancement of medical-surgical nursing.

AMSN: What is one contribution you’ve made to medical-surgical nursing, big or small, that you are most proud of?

JR: One contribution that I have made to medical-surgical nursing is related to my role as a nurse educator. I have been educating nursing students in medical-surgical courses for the past 23 years. I am proud to say that, in this role, I have had the opportunity to positively influence and encourage generations of students to practice in medical-surgical nursing.

AMSN: Outside of your role as a professor and now editor-in-chief, how do you spend your free time?

JR: I spend my free time with family, traveling, and reading.