Dr. Joan Edwards was a Fulbright Specialist in Universitas Indonesia in October 2024. Her work aimed to enhance Indonesian nurses’ research capabilities and international publication opportunities.

Fulbright Specialist, Dr. Joan Edwards, professor of Nursing Emerita from Texas Woman’s University, US, has recently completed a Fulbright Specialist project with Universitas Indonesia from October 7-26, 2024.

During the past five to ten years, international health organizations such as World Health Organization (2021) and the International Council of Nursing (2018) have taken a firm stand in their international documents that health-related research is the cornerstone of best practices. Evidence-based practice can positively impact health outcomes for our nations’ populations. Given the high percentage of global health workers who are nurses, the nursing profession is strategically placed to improve health and quality of life. How timely for Indonesia to have an invited Fulbright Specialist to assist with capacity-building and empowerment of university faculty in the production and international publication of nursing research, education and practice.

Dr. Edwards shared that nursing faculty in Indonesia, the United States, and all over the world are confronted with the challenge of producing high quality professional and health-related research while also fulfilling their three-pronged role of educating the next generation of nurses, producing scholarship (which includes research and publication of research), and community involvement – contributing to the well-being of our profession and the communities in which we live.

Throughout Dr. Edwards time spent at the university, she not only gave lectures to faculty and all levels of nursing students (mostly master’s and doctoral level), but she also spent many hours in consultation with individual faculty regarding their research and their publication efforts.

She shared a wealth of information on, 1) choosing a journal that is a ‘good fit’ for their research, 2) avoiding predatory journals, 3) structuring the research study so that it will appeal to journal editors, 4) conducting a research study in a manner congruent with research guidelines which then flow into research manuscript development, and 5) developing an awareness of factors that positively impact journal article acceptance.

Dr. Edwards explained, “Collaborative research has become the norm throughout the world, not only within a country, but also globally.”

A glance at the top 10 causes of mortality within the world when compared to Indonesia, the US, or other countries on any of the continents will reveal common chronic diseases, disaster-related health issues and even infectious diseases like our most recent Covid-pandemic. This awareness should make us even more eager to combine our experience and expertise in addressing health issues we all encounter. The benefits of collaborative research and publication far outweigh the disadvantages, including sharing of knowledge, embracing expertise across disciplines, dividing the workload, and pooling funding sources.