Author Guidelines

1) Scope & suitability

CJNCP welcomes original work across the full continuum of nursing practice—acute care, community and public health, long-term and elder care, mental health, maternal-child health, perioperative, critical care, primary care, and advanced practice nursing—alongside education and leadership scholarship. We prioritize studies that demonstrate clinical impact, methodological soundness, ethical integrity, cultural sensitivity, and practical guidance for nurses and allied health professionals.

If unsure about suitability, email a brief pre-submission inquiry with a structured abstract (Background, Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusions) and the manuscript type you intend to submit.

2) Manuscript types & typical limits

Word counts are for the main text (excluding abstract, references, tables/figures, and supplementary materials). We allow reasonable deviations when justified by content and reporting standards.

Type Main text Abstract Figures/Tables References Notes
Original Research 3,000–5,500 words Structured 250–300 words Up to 6–8 combined As needed Quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods; IMRaD structure.
Systematic Review / Meta-analysis 4,000–6,000 words Structured 250–300 words Up to 8–10 As needed Use PRISMA; include protocol registration if available.
Quality Improvement (QI) Report 2,500–4,000 words Structured 200–250 words Up to 6 As needed Use SQUIRE; clarify QI vs research oversight.
Case Report / Series 1,500–2,500 words Unstructured ≤200 words Up to 4 ≤25 typical Use CARE; obtain explicit patient consent for identifiable details.
Brief Report 1,200–2,000 words Unstructured ≤150 words Up to 3 ≤20 typical Preliminary findings of clear practical interest.
Protocol 2,500–4,000 words Structured ≤250 words Up to 5 As needed Provide registration (e.g., trial registries) and detailed methods.
Perspective / Commentary 1,500–2,500 words Unstructured ≤150 words Up to 2 ≤30 typical Evidence-informed analysis relevant to practice or policy.
Education Resource / Methodology 2,000–4,000 words Structured ≤250 words Up to 6 As needed Include materials (e.g., teaching tools) with clear licensing.
Letters / Editorials ≤1,000 words None ≤1 ≤10 typical Concise scholarly exchange; no abstract.

Plain-language summary (optional)

Authors may include a 120–200 word plain-language summary aimed at bedside nurses, patients, or students. Place it after the abstract; avoid jargon and emphasize clinical relevance.

3) Ethics, approvals & registration

  • Human participants: Provide IRB/IEC approval (with reference number and date) or a documented waiver and justify why a waiver applies. Describe informed consent procedures and protections for vulnerable populations.
  • Patient consent for case material: For identifiable patients (text, images, audio/video), obtain and retain explicit consent for publication; state this in the manuscript.
  • Quality improvement projects: Clarify oversight and whether the activity constitutes research at your institution; describe safeguards and data protections.
  • Clinical trials and prospective registries: Register prospective trials prior to first participant enrollment. Provide registration ID in the abstract and Methods.
  • Animal care: Provide institutional approval and describe welfare measures (species, housing, anesthesia/analgesia, endpoints).
  • Conflicts of interest: Disclose financial and non-financial interests for all authors, and specify the funder’s role in the study and publication.

See the Publication Ethics Policy for full requirements on consent, data integrity, conflicts, and misconduct handling.

4) Reporting checklists

Upload the relevant reporting checklist as a supplementary file and cite it in Methods. At a minimum, ensure the manuscript addresses each item.

Study type Checklist (examples) Key notes
Randomized trials CONSORT (+ extensions as applicable) Describe allocation, blinding, deviations, and harms.
Observational studies STROBE State design, setting, participants, variables, bias, missing data.
Systematic reviews / Meta-analyses PRISMA Include search strategy, selection flow diagram, risk of bias.
Quality improvement SQUIRE Context, intervention, measures, analysis, sustainability.
Qualitative research COREQ / SRQR Paradigm, reflexivity, sampling, data collection, analysis, trustworthiness.
Case reports CARE Timeline, diagnostic assessment, interventions, outcomes, patient perspective.
Educational interventions TIDieR Describe materials, procedures, who provided, where, when, how much, tailoring.
Diagnostic accuracy STARD Index test, reference standard, flow and timing.

5) Article structure & formatting

Title page

  • Concise, informative title (≤20 words) with keywords where natural.
  • Full author names, highest credentials, affiliations, and corresponding author contact.
  • ORCID iDs (recommended), author contributions, funding, conflicts of interest, ethics approvals, trial registration ID, and word count.

Abstract & keywords

  • Use the format specified in the type table (structured or unstructured).
  • Provide 3–6 keywords relevant to nursing practice and indexing.
  • Include clinical relevance or “What this means for practice” (1–3 bullets) where appropriate.

Main text

  • Original research: Introduction; Methods; Results; Discussion; Conclusions.
  • Qualitative research: Adapt headings as appropriate (Design/Paradigm; Setting/Participants; Data Collection; Analysis; Trustworthiness; Findings; Discussion).
  • QI: Background; Local problem; Methods (Context, Intervention, Measures, Analysis); Results; Lessons and Limitations; Conclusions.
  • Systematic reviews: Introduction; Methods (Protocol/Registration, Eligibility, Information Sources, Search, Selection, Data Collection, Risk of Bias, Synthesis); Results; Discussion; Conclusions.

Style & formatting

  • Use clear, plain English; spell out acronyms on first use; prefer person-first, non-stigmatizing language.
  • Manuscript file: double-spaced, 11–12 pt font, 1-inch (2.5 cm) margins, continuous line numbering.
  • Units: SI; medications by generic name with dose, route, and frequency; provide device model and manufacturer where relevant.
  • Statistics: name software and version; report effect sizes and confidence intervals with exact p-values.
  • Accessibility: add descriptive alt text for figures; avoid color-only encoding; ensure adequate contrast.

Authorship & contributorship (CRediT-style)

List each author’s contributions using roles such as: Conceptualization; Methodology; Investigation; Data Curation; Formal Analysis; Software; Validation; Visualization; Writing – Original Draft; Writing – Review & Editing; Supervision; Project Administration; Funding Acquisition. All authors share responsibility for integrity.

Language and editing

Professional language editing is optional and does not guarantee acceptance. Disclose any tools used for language, statistics, or image processing. Authors remain responsible for accuracy.

6) Figures, tables & multimedia

Figures

  • Formats: TIFF, PNG, JPEG (photos); SVG/EPS (line art). Resolution: ≥300 dpi (photos), ≥600 dpi (line art).
  • Color: RGB; avoid gradients that hinder printing; ensure color-blind-friendly palettes.
  • Do not overlay personally identifiable information (faces, names, ID numbers). Blur or crop as needed with consent.
  • Legends: supply a separate figure legends document with clear, self-contained explanations and abbreviations spelled out.

Tables

  • Create editable tables in the manuscript or as .docx/.xlsx; avoid screenshots.
  • Use concise titles and footnotes; define all abbreviations at first mention.
  • Ensure tables can be understood independently of the text.

Multimedia & supplementary files

  • Video: MP4 (H.264/AAC) preferred; provide caption text and brief transcript if speech or critical sounds are present.
  • Audio: MP3/AAC (access) or WAV (archival).
  • Supplementary materials (checklists, questionnaires, extended methods): upload as separate files with a descriptive caption.

Authors are responsible for permissions for third-party content. Include credit lines and license details where required.

7) Data, code & materials

Provide a Data Availability Statement (DAS) describing where data, instruments, and code can be accessed—or explaining restrictions (e.g., privacy, institutional policy). De-identify data and consider controlled access for sensitive datasets.

Recommended DAS language

  • Open deposit: “De-identified data and analysis code are available at [Repository/DOI].”
  • Restricted access: “Due to patient privacy constraints, de-identified data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request subject to institutional agreements.”
  • No data: “This study did not generate datasets beyond what is included in the article.”

Good practices

  • Assign persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs) to datasets and code; cite them in the article and references where appropriate.
  • Include a README with variable definitions, units, and de-identification procedures.
  • For qualitative data, share instruments/codebooks or sample excerpts consistent with consent and privacy.

8) References & citations

  • Use a numbered citation style in order of appearance (e.g., “[1]”). Place citation numbers after punctuation where practical.
  • Reference format (examples):

Examples

Journal article: Surname AB, Surname CD. Title of article. Journal Name. 2023;12(4):123-131. doi:10.xxxx/xxxxx

Book: Surname AB. Book Title. 2nd ed. Publisher; 2021.

Chapter: Surname AB. Title of chapter. In: Surname CD, ed. Book Title. Publisher; 2022:45-60.

Web resource: Organization. Title. Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL

  • List up to six authors; for seven or more, list the first six then “et al.”
  • Include DOIs with the https prefix where available.
  • Ensure all references are cited in the text and vice versa.

9) Submission files & anonymization

File Purpose Notes
Blinded manuscript Peer review Remove author names/affiliations; redact self-identifying text; refer to institution as “our center” where anonymization is needed.
Title page Editorial records Authors, affiliations, corresponding author, contributions, funding, conflicts, ethics approvals, trial registration, word count.
Figures Publication quality Separate high-resolution files; legends in a separate Word document.
Tables Accessibility Editable tables; avoid images of tables.
Reporting checklist Compliance Upload applicable checklist (e.g., CONSORT, PRISMA, SQUIRE).
Cover letter Editorial context Summarize novelty, clinical impact, and compliance statements.
Supplementary files Transparency Checklists, questionnaires, extended methods, data/code links.

Cover letter (suggested template)

  • Title and manuscript type; 2–3 sentences on significance and novelty.
  • One sentence on clinical/practice relevance for nurses.
  • Ethics approvals/consent, trial registration (if applicable).
  • Data availability statement and repository links (if applicable).
  • Conflict of interest declarations and funding.
  • Suggested reviewers (with emails and rationale) and any exclusions.

10) Peer review, decisions & revisions

CJNCP conducts external expert peer review for research articles and appropriate internal review for other formats. We strive for respectful, constructive feedback and timely decisions.

Review process

  • Initial editorial assessment for scope, ethics, and completeness.
  • External peer review by qualified experts with attention to methodological rigor and clinical relevance.
  • Editors synthesize feedback and render a decision (accept, minor/major revision, reject).

Preparing your revision

  • Provide a point-by-point response to each reviewer and editor comment.
  • Upload a clean revised manuscript and a marked version (track changes or highlighted edits).
  • If you disagree with a suggestion, explain respectfully with evidence.

Do not include identifying information in the blinded manuscript during revision unless the editor requests unblinding.

11) After acceptance: proofs & publication

  • Upon acceptance, production begins (copyediting, layout, metadata). You will receive page proofs for review—please check carefully for accuracy and respond within the specified timeframe.
  • Provide any missing items (e.g., ORCID, funding award numbers, repository DOIs) promptly to avoid delays.
  • After author approval, the version of record is published open access and assigned a DOI. Share the article using the DOI and license terms.
  • Post-publication, you may deposit the VoR or Accepted Manuscript per our Repository Policy. If a correction or update becomes necessary, contact the editorial office immediately.

12) Open access & licensing

CJNCP publishes open access under the license shown on each article. Authors retain key reuse rights consistent with that license. Ensure that third-party content included in your article is compatible with the selected license or has explicit permission with appropriate credit lines.

Third-party material and permissions

  • Obtain permission for previously published figures/tables where required; retain permission letters for your records.
  • For instruments or scales, verify licensing terms for reproduction or adaptation and include required attributions.

13) APCs, waivers & invoices

  • No submission fees; APC is requested only after acceptance and does not influence editorial decisions.
  • See the Charges Policy and Article Processing Charges page for current rates and what the APC covers.
  • Eligible authors may request up to 50% waiver/discount according to our Waiver Policy. Request at submission or during initial checks.
  • Invoices can be issued to institutions; provide purchase orders or tax details if required by your finance office.

14) Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Common questions

Q1: Do you consider preprinted manuscripts?
Yes. Disclose the preprint DOI on submission and update the preprint with the published DOI upon acceptance.

Q2: Do you impose word limits strictly?
We use the ranges above as guides. Provide a brief justification in the cover letter if you need to exceed them for methodological transparency.

Q3: What if my study mixes methods?
Label clearly as mixed-methods and follow appropriate checklists (e.g., STROBE + SRQR). Describe integration of qualitative and quantitative strands.

Q4: Is language polishing required?
Not required. Clear English is essential; professional editing or tools may be used with disclosure. Authors remain responsible for accuracy.

Q5: Can I suggest reviewers?
Yes, include names, affiliations, and emails, plus a brief rationale. You may also list reasonable exclusions. Editors retain full discretion.

Q6: May I reuse the figures elsewhere?
Yes, according to the article’s license and with proper citation. For third-party content, follow the original rights holder’s terms.

15) Contact

Questions about these guidelines or suitability of a manuscript can be directed to the editorial office through the journal’s official contact page. Include manuscript type, a working title, and a 150–200 word summary to help us respond efficiently.