International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing

Official journal of the Association of Maltese Orthopaedic Nurses, the Australia New Zealand Orthopaedic Nurses Association, Canadian Orthopaedic Nurses Association, RCN Society of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing and officially recognised by the Asian Association for Dynamic Osteosynthesis (Nursing), the Danish Orthopaedic Nurses Association (FSOS), Ortopedisjuksköterskor I Sverige (Sweden) and the International Collaboration of Orthopaedic Nursing

The International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing is a peer-reviewed journal that seeks to promote the development and exchange of specialist knowledge within orthopaedic and trauma practice.
The focus of orthopaedic and musculoskeletal trauma includes delivery of care for individuals with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders across the lifespan. It is not limited to purely the acute management of injuries and disorders but includes health promotion, bone health, falls/injury reduction, education, development of specialist workforce, contribution to health policy development and promotion of health in society.
The journal is devoted primarily to nurses but also aims to serve other health professionals involved in the care of patients with orthopaedic and associated traumatic conditions. The journal aims to promote and share best practice through the dissemination of high quality research findings, debate within practice, exploration of professional issues and the development of health care practice as well as innovative roles.

The journal publishes a wide range of papers from primary research and evidence updates to personal reflections on practice, book reviews, education and practice/management issues. The journal is committed to encouraging the sharing of new and innovative practices implemented across a broad range of international settings that will benefit people with musculoskeletal conditions and injuries worldwide. The journal encourages submission of different types of literature reviews such as scoping, narrative, integrative and systematic reviews, practice/quality improvement projects, healthcare system designs/reforms and innovations and letters to the editor regarding relevant topics. The journal is keen to consider submissions from a broad range of disciplines (ie non nursing) but it is essential that authors from those fields make the relevance of that paper to orthopaedic and trauma nursing overt in the manuscript.

The mission of the journal is to facilitate global networking amongst orthopaedic and trauma nurses that results in the sharing of evidence-based practice, the dissemination of ideas and knowledge amongst orthopaedic and trauma nurses and other members of the health care team, including the organisations which support such practitioners in developing their knowledge and practice. The editorial team encourages and supports contributions from both experienced, developing and first time authors.

Practice Development in Orthopaedics and Trauma
Papers which describe initiatives and innovation in practice development or support continuing education are welcomed by the editors. In keeping with the journal's aims and scope, short papers are invited from clinical staff, educators and students. Such papers may focus on, but are not restricted to, best practice and practice development initiatives; implementation of research findings and education; improvements in patient care and development of the workforce in the clinical environment. Papers should be prepared in keeping with the journal's style (Guide for Authors can be found at Guide for Authors and should help the orthopaedic and trauma practitioner to develop and maintain their own skills and knowledge and help to transform delivery of quality care for patients elsewhere in the world. In addition, authors can use such papers to make the most of international networks by sharing their work, innovations and ideas.