LAUSR

In a keynote presentation to the RCN Research Conference in 2016, I raised concerns about the gradual shift over the past 40 years in the content of papers published in JAN (Rolfe 2016). In 1976, research reports made up roughly 10% of the journal. By 2007, 91% of published papers were either research reports, systematic reviews or methodology papers. Alison Tierney, the editor at the time, defended this growing emphasis on research by suggesting that it reflected the current trend in nursing. She pointed out that JAN did at least still publish non-research papers and claimed that 'JAN's continuing commitment to publish scholarly work is one of its distinguishing hallmarks' (Tierney 2007). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.