Are ejournals and the issues related to web knowledge acquisition just a part of the wholeness of knowledge integration or one method that represents a paradigm shift in thought to global awareness and the predominance of a simultaneity paradigm? It would be affirming to think that ejournals represent a paradigm shift. However, the current situation is that most online journals look just like the written journals, only on the computer. Medline even insists that ejournals have a volume and issue number so they can be listed. This is not the intent of many of the journals and certainly was not the intent of OJIN since it strives to be a dynamic, fluid journal. Until ejournals can expand out of thinking in two-dimensional boundaries and stop trying to look like printed journals, there really is no paradigm shift, just a different method of delivery of information within the existing paradigm of knowledge delivery and acquisition.

Ejournals have not begun to use and explore all of the unique methods of delivery of knowledge and stimulation of thought that are possible with the unlimitedness of the internet as it exists today. Kuhn states that paradigm shifts leads to grouping the same data in different ways. Ejournals must expand their focus and way of delivering information in a different way than written journals. This will lead to new and different methods of evaluation of scholarship. Some current ways that ejournals could be expanded include: videos of authors demonstrating their ideas in concrete practice areas; chat rooms where interested individuals could converse concerning topics of interest on issues specific to journal related matters; global exchange of information on specific concerns related to topics; question and answer forums for help on issues and exchange of ideas; web searches on issue topics; netmeetings related to topics, practice issues, research; theoretical framework construction among people from many areas around the globe; or collaborative research projects that could be reviewed and developed related to the issues at hand. The use of ejournals is only limited by the imagination of the individuals and the capability of the servers.

Ejournals are a new method of delivery of knowledge and building of scholarship. For us to evaluate them by two-dimensional methods and old ideas of scholarship instead of expanding our minds to the new possibilities is limiting and unjust. If we are to stimulate new ways of knowing, acquiring and structuring knowledge in a new organizational framework and new world view, we must not limit our imagination or our ways of looking at the issues at hand. We need to expand our thinking to the wholeness of knowledge. If this happens, a paradigm shift will occur that will expand our understanding of scholarship and knowledge acquisition.

Nurses must be able to use all of the resources available to them for research, practice and theory development. Until nurses begin to look at nursing science and the paradigm that best addresses the phenomena and client interests, there will be no real advancement.