What does “50” mean in publication years?

This is an exciting year for The Nurse Practitioner: 2025 marks 50 years of continuous publication, commencing with the September/October 1975 issue including an interview with Dr. Loretta Ford. Its bold start as the first journal focused exclusively on NPs has been realized in becoming a leading, highly respected journal, “providing practical, cutting-edge clinical and professional information” to NPs and other advanced practice providers through scholarly excellence. This success would not have been possible without the contributions of innumerable NPs and others over the years; the team wants to thank each and every one, including our authors and readers. Processes in publishing have changed significantly since 1975. We have progressed from mailing marked-up manuscripts back and forth among author, editor, and peer reviewers to managing all processes on an electronic platform, saving valuable time and postage. Editorial meetings have moved from infrequent in-person-only events to a combination of in-person and remote meetings. Even with technologic advances and advantages, we are still able to offer each issue in print and online because that is what our readers prefer. CELEBRATION BOARD The editorial team has planned several interesting features in the journal throughout 2025 in celebration. You will notice the special 50-year anniversary logo on the cover. Dr. Susanne Phillips starts the year with the journal's much-anticipated 37th Annual APRN Legislative Update. She reminds us about the history of the report, from the first installment in 1983, which was one page, to the present broader multistate review. History informs the present and helps us appreciate the progress NPs have made in moving regulatory practices forward. With new federal, state, and local officials elected last year, we must remain informed and watchful of healthcare system changes to ensure the US population has access to full NP services. Also, you will hear the voices of NP leaders, including members of the journal's Editorial Advisory Board, in a series of conversations featured each month starting in February. The celebration board is filled with other special highlights, so stay tuned all year. THE NP ROLE This year also denotes the 60-year anniversary of the NP role, a milestone that will be marked by many events. Prepare for the festivities amid the hard work that continues! I first met a pediatric NP in 1971, 6 years after the 1965 creation of the NP role. She came on the hospital floor to explain her role to us as nursing students, I believe to let us see options in our future careers. She provided services to children with acute and chronic medical conditions, making assessments and managing their care, freely moving amid the hospital, school, and home—wherever the child might be at a given time. I was in awe: “How could a nurse do so much?” I was struggling just to create a nursing plan for my one patient. Because we were in rural Minnesota, the NP may have been given more autonomy than in other areas of the country. I made up my mind right then, “I want to be an NP when I grow up.” The early NPs paved the way for us today, and many of their challenges are preserved in the pages of The Nurse Practitioner; every issue from 1975 to the present is archived on the journal website. I invite you to take the time to read some of the older articles and commentaries. 20 YEARS I must be having fun because I celebrate my 20th anniversary as editor-in-chief this year. Join me on this journey. Jamesetta A. Newland, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, DPNAP, FAAN Editor-in-Chief [email protected]