Frequently Asked Questions….Again and Again, 2008

Article Outline

• Copyright

ONCE AGAIN I am excerpting portions of this original editorial first published in 1987. This is the fourth time that I have publish iterations of this editorial; however it is an opportune time to remind readers and prospective authors of our editorial mission and specifications. For nearly the past two years, Journal of Pediatric Nursing (JPN) has been part of the Elsevier Editorial System (EES), the electronic submission system used by all journals that are published by Elsevier. Use of the EES has created wonderful new opportunities for JPN. Our submission rate has more than doubled and we have been able to significantly increase our pool of reviewers. I encourage authors to send their queries about potential articles by accessing the JPN website. The website address is: http://ees.elsevier.com/jpediatrnurs/. You can email me directly by accessing the website. I look forward to hearing from you and your interest in publishing manuscript on topics pertaining to the health care needs of infants, children, youth and their families.

What topics is the Journal most interested in publishing? We are interested in publishing articles on virtually every topic related to pediatric and child health nursing care. As has been emphasized in the past and continues to be true today, there are scant amounts of literature on a vast number of diseases affecting children. For instance, when was the last time you read an article on current treatment modalities for children with short bowel syndrome and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis? We are eager to publish topics on the care of critically, acutely, and chronically ill children. We also welcome manuscripts that address issues concerning primary, community and home care. We are interested in publishing papers on managed care topics because so little has been written from a clinical perspective pertaining to pediatric and child health care. For those of you who are interested in writing a manuscript on evidence-based nursing practice, I encourage you to contact the Associate Editor, Dr. Maura MacPhee as she will answer any questions you might have. If you have a question about your manuscript topic, then we encourage you to email any one of the journal and column editors. As you may have observed we published special issues on selected topics. If you have an idea for a special issue we encourage you to contact us.

How long does the review process take? Currently, the review process takes approximately 4 to 8 weeks. Every manuscript received is sent to two reviewers who are experts in their content area. The reviewers' comments are then forwarded together with the reviewed manuscript to the author with an editorial commentary. All requested subsequent revisions are sent to the same team of reviewers to maintain consistency with the review process. The review process has been expedited with our electronic submission process. Manuscripts are now being reviewed with a shorter turnaround and by a considerably larger pool or reviewers.

Do you have any particular suggestions for going through the review process? At times, authors and reviewers become frustrated with the manuscript review process. Authors will feel misunderstood as to the intent and presentation of their revisions and the reviewers may believe that additional revisions are needed despite the author's repeated attempts to address their concerns. The electronic review process enables authors to address reviewers' concerns point by point. In some instances, I suggest that authors write additional comments to explain their thinking in rewriting their manuscript. This additional step has been very successful in conveying to reviewers a context that is helpful to them in reviewing the paper. The process of reviewing the manuscript itself is not compromised as the paper is ultimately judged for its scholarly and clinical contribution but it can be used as a tool to enhance communication between the author and reviewers.

What are the primary reasons for rejecting a manuscript? One major reason why manuscripts are rejected is for the overall lack of organization and inability to clearly convey information. In an eager attempt to convey information to the reader, the author presents ideas that are confusing and convoluted. In many cases, the writer does not use an organizing or conceptual framework as the basis for the paper, resulting in a discussion of loosely associated facts.

Another major reason for rejecting manuscript is the lack of specificity or depth with which the information conveyed. For example, the author makes fleeting reference to a theory or concept that is germane to the understanding the subsequent discussion. Global expressions may be used with the assumption that the reader is able to understand and interpret accurately what the author intends to convey. Also, manuscripts will be rejected if the clinical content does not provide a new or fresh approach to the subject matter. Conveying clinical information that has been integrated as a standard of practice is unlikely to be a manuscript that is accepted for publication.

We will continue to publish relevant and timely articles, and we will not be complacent. We are willing to experiment and take risks if we believe what we publish is consistent with the aims of the journal. We look forward to working with you to support you in achieving your professional goals and to continue to publish articles that contribute to the body of literature on the health care needs of children, youth and their families.