Patricia G. Morton, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN, professor and associate dean for academic affairs, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been named editor of the Journal of Professional Nursing.

The Journal of Professional Nursing is a publication for nurse educators published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Under Morton’s editorial leadership, the journal will continue its scholarly emphasis on education, research, and policy. Morton wants to include articles that are timely and deal with contemporary issues in nursing, such as the national effort to implement recommendations from the 2010 Institute of Medicine report on the future of nursing. Additionally, Morton is seeking to gradually move the journal, which is currently in print form only, into the digital age.