Here we go!

Oh summer, you were much too short!  I hope everyone had lots of fun in the sun and are ready for a new year of Journal Club reading.  After a brief hiatus, Journalphoria is back with a new look and format.  This will be the second year for the on-line Journal Club blog which last year had forty nurses participating.   Last years members agreed almost unanimously that due to differing shifts and schedules, the preferred method of interaction would be posting on the blog.  This year to receive Journal Club credit for clinical ladder you must complete six of the eight articles posted.  The first article will be available October 1st.

Now for the fine print!

• To join Journal Club, you must have a Gmail account and sign into the Blog as a follower.  By doing so you will receive notification through that Gmail account when articles are available.  This account also allows you the ability to post a comment on the blog.  Each article will have three to four questions pertaining to content, and one question that will be designated for discussion on the blog. To receive credit for that month, the discussion question must be answered in the comment box on the blog, along with an email submission of the non discussion answers to the post.  If you do not have a Gmail account, "google" Gmail and open one, it's free! 

• Discussion comments must be at least two complete and well thought out sentences.  Please remember, posting on line lacks facial expression and verbal tone.  Read your post carefully to ensure that what you are saying would not be found offensive or rude by someone else. Also remember HIPAA!  Could a patient or employee reading your post feel that their privacy has been compromised by something you wrote?

• Please email the non discussion questions using a header to identify which article you are answering.   Please also type your FULL NAME, unit, email and an extension that you can be reached at.   

• Articles will be published the first week of October, November, December, January, February, March, April, and May.  Six of the eight articles must be completed to receive credit for Clinical Ladder.  The articles will include a due date that must be met without exception! 

I am trying not to be a blogging tyrant with the new rules- in the third bullet point I did say please twice!  My goal is to keep Journalphoria a fun and informative medium that can enhance everyone's Oncology practice regardless of your specialty area.  I welcome any and all suggestions for topics, as well as how Journal Club can be improved.