Rehabilitation Nursing Journal Inducted into the Nursing Journal Hall of Fame

The Rehabilitation Nursing Journal (RNJ) has been named to the 2025-2026 class of the Nursing Journal Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed by the International Academy of Nursing Editors (INANE). This recognition celebrates the journal's 50 years of continuous publication and its sustained contributions to the advancement of nursing knowledge.

Eleven Scholarly Journals to Be Honored at INANE 2025 Annual Meeting

The journal will be formally inducted at the INANE Annual Meeting on August 6, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. EDT in Portland, Maine, alongside ten other distinguished nursing journals. This year's honorees bring the total number of journals in the Hall of Fame to 42. Together, these journals represent a combined 555 years of continuous scholarly publication, reflecting excellence across a wide spectrum of nursing specialties and disciplines.

The Rehabilitation Nursing Journal is honored to join other esteemed publications in this year's Hall of Fame class, including:

1. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Critical Care (1972)
2. Journal of Advanced Nursing (1976)
3. Journal of Emergency Nursing (1975)
4. Journal of Gerontological Nursing (1975)
5. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal-Child Nursing (1976)
6. Nephrology Nursing Journal (1974)
7. Nurse Educator (1976)
8. Oncology Nursing Forum (1974)
9. Pediatric Nursing (1975)
10. The Nurse Practitioner (1975)

History of the RNJ 

Founded in 1975 by the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN), the Rehabilitation Nursing Journal was established at a time when rehabilitation nursing emerged as a distinct specialty. Recognizing a gap in scholarly resources, ARN launched the journal with the mission to:

• Promote evidence-based practice in rehabilitation nursing.
• Provide a scholarly outlet for nurses in the field.
• Support the professional development of rehabilitation nurses.
• Advocate for the recognition of rehabilitation nursing as a specialty [1].

Over the past five decades, the journal has evolved in response to the changing landscape of healthcare and publishing. Major milestones include:

1990s: Introduction of Rehabilitation Nursing Research (1992–1996), a supplement focused on research.

2000s: Modernization of the journal's layout and increased emphasis on evidence-based practice.

2010s: Digital access expanded; integration with ARN's educational initiatives; began encouraging use of reporting guidelines

Editors-In-Chief Over the Years 

The journal has been led by 11 editors-in-chief, beginning with inaugural editor Dagny Engle (1975–1979) and most recently Anne Deutsch (2025–present). A legacy of editorial excellence has ensured the journal's continued relevance and scientific integrity.

Publishing transitioned from being self-published by ARN to Wiley, and since 2017, the journal has been published by Wolters Kluwer, further enhancing its visibility and reach.

Editors-in-Chief and Their Terms

We'd like to recognize the contributions of the following editors:

1. Dagny Engle, 1975 – 1979
   
2. Mary Ann Mikulic, 1979 – 1980
3. Barbara McHugh, 1980 – 1985
4. Glee Wahlquist, 1985 – 1987
5. Susan Novak, 1987
6. Belinda Puetz, 1987 – 1997
7. Susan Dean-Barr, 1997 – 2003
8. Elaine Miller, 2003 – 2016
9. Kristen Mauk, 2017 – 2018
10. Pamala Larsen, 2019 – 2024
11. Anne Deutsch, 2025 - present

For more information about the INANE Nursing Journal Hall of Fame, visit: https://nursingeditors.com/hall-of-fame 

Learn More about the RNJ 

To learn more about this member benefit and for ways to contribute to this specialty journal, please click below.