What we publish

CJNCP welcomes manuscripts that explore evidence-based nursing care across the lifespan and care continuum. Our scope includes acute and critical care, medical–surgical and perioperative practice, maternal–child and neonatal care, mental health, community and public health, chronic disease management, long-term and palliative care, informatics and digital health, nursing education and transition to practice, leadership and policy, and interprofessional collaboration.

Emphasis on practical transferability

We prioritize manuscripts that translate evidence into actions bedside teams can adapt locally. Authors are encouraged to include implementation checklists, adaptation guidance for low-resource settings, and considerations for equity and accessibility.

Editorial and peer-review standards

All submissions undergo double-blind peer review. Reviewers evaluate originality, clinical relevance, methodological rigor, ethics, equity considerations, and clarity. Editorial decisions weigh scientific merit and practical value to nursing practice. The journal uses similarity checking as part of its integrity screening, and expects accurate citation, quotation, and data presentation.

Editorial independence

Editors make decisions independent of commercial interests. Reviewers and editors declare competing interests and recuse themselves when conflicts could bias judgment. We welcome well-reasoned rebuttals and evidence-based appeals, and we view respectful debate as a hallmark of scholarly progress.

Handling concerns and appeals

Concerns about published or under-review work are handled through a structured process governed by the journal’s grievance route. We assess issues promptly, correct the record when necessary, and use feedback to improve editorial practice.

Open access and reuse

All CJNCP articles are freely accessible online upon publication. The journal’s licensing policy describes the Creative Commons license displayed on each article, clarifying how readers may reuse, share, and build upon published work. When authors include third-party content, they must ensure that reuse is compatible with the article’s license or obtain permissions.

Open access is also technical: we support machine-readable metadata, accessible HTML, and persistent URLs for assets to aid discovery and reuse by libraries, indexers, and repository harvesters.

Discoverability, preservation, and transparency

CJNCP supports the long-term accessibility of the scholarly record. Articles are produced in accessible HTML and PDF with semantic markup for headings, tables, and figures. Article-level metadata includes title, abstract, keywords, author affiliations, funding statements, ethics approvals, and data availability statements. These metadata support harvesting by library services and citation indexes.

Indexing and abstracting

Indexing details are updated on the journal’s website. Readers can browse volumes and individual article pages via the archive and table-of-contents listings.

Article-level metrics

We encourage responsible use of article-level indicators (e.g., downloads, citations, discussion) to understand reach and impact. Quantitative indicators complement—not replace—expert assessment and clinical relevance.

Research ethics and authorship

All research must comply with recognized standards for ethics review, consent, and privacy. Authors should state institutional review board (IRB) or equivalent approval (or reason for exemption) and describe consent procedures appropriate to the clinical context. Case reports and images require consent and de-identification unless ethically justified and compliant with local laws and policies.

Authorship reflects substantial contributions to conception or design; data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation; drafting or critical revision; and final approval. Contributors and funders are acknowledged transparently. Competing interests must be declared for all authors, editors, and reviewers.

Equity, diversity, inclusion, and patient partnership

CJNCP encourages inclusive authorship and diverse perspectives. We welcome research that partners with patients, caregivers, and communities to co-create solutions. Authors should report recruitment strategies, representation, language access, disability accommodations, and any barriers that could affect generalizability. Equitable evidence requires equitable methods, and we invite submissions that address structural determinants of health, cultural safety, and bias reduction.

Data, materials, and transparency

Where appropriate and permitted by policy and ethics review, authors are encouraged to share de-identified data, instruments, and analytic code in trusted repositories with persistent identifiers. Every submission should include a data availability statement. Visual integrity matters: figures and images must accurately reflect the underlying data; necessary adjustments should be declared.

Accessibility and usability

We are committed to accessible web content and galleys. Authors should ensure headings follow a logical hierarchy; tables include headers and captions; images include alternative text; and color is not used as the sole means of conveying information. Visual abstracts and plain-language summaries are welcome and can improve clinical uptake.

Community and global reach

The journal invites submissions worldwide and supports authors for whom English is not a first language through transparent expectations and constructive feedback. We particularly encourage manuscripts from low- and middle-income settings and from rural or remote practice contexts, where adaptation and feasibility are critical to impact.

Frequently asked questions

Is CJNCP open access?

Yes. Articles are free to read online. Reuse permissions are defined by the license indicated on each article and explained in the Licensing Policy.

What peer-review model do you use?

Double-blind peer review. Author and reviewer identities are masked during evaluation.

How often do you publish?

A yearly issue cadence is listed on the site, with volumes and issues accessible via the archive.

How are complaints handled?

Through a formal grievance route that ensures timely, fair resolution and continuous improvement.

Where can I find guidance for preparing a manuscript?

Please consult the Author Guidelines and related policy pages for detailed instructions, templates, and checklists.

Contact and communication

For general queries about scope, submissions, licensing, or accessibility, please use the contact options provided on the journal website. For appeals and ethical concerns, reference the grievance route and include manuscript IDs or URLs to expedite review. Clear subject lines and concise summaries help us respond efficiently.

At-a-glance

Tags: Clinical Nursing Open Access Peer Review Quality Improvement Patient Safety