Tips on Publishing
 How to Write Journal Articles
Many nurses have knowledge and skills that should be shared with others. However, most nurses limit their sharing to face-to-face communication when they could share with a wider audience through publication. The purpose of this article is to outline the steps for writing and publishing a journal article.
Topic
The topic you choose should be one that is of interest to you or that you know well. The idea for the topic may come from personal experience, papers written for a class, or the work setting.
Audience
Identify the intended audience. Students, educators, nurse specialists, and administrators will want different information. Select your target audience and focus your writing to correspond with their interests and educational background.
Publication type
There are hundreds of journals available today both in print and on-line. Once you have identified the audience, look for journals focusing on that audience. Read several articles in those journals and select the journals that most closely fit your topic.
Guidelines
Next, carefully follow the guidelines that each journal provides for authors. Journals will specify article length, font size, the size and number of illustrations, the length of the reference list, and the publication style or format such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA) style. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines will be rejected.
Writing
To write the article, begin with an outline. Identify the major points you will be making and look for ways to illustrate them. Write an introduction. If this is a research article, include a literature review, a description of the methods used to gather data, analysis of the data, conclusions, and recommendations for further research. Ask a colleague to read it for interest value; ask another writer to review it for editorial accuracy.
Submission
Submit your article in the medium specified by the journal. Many printed journals request that you send at least 2 copies of the manuscript of your article. Most are requesting online submission.
Editing
If the journal is refereed (reviewed by expert peers), there may be a period of several months while it is being critiqued. If the article is seen as appropriate for the journal, the editor will return the comments to you along with suggested editorial changes. Your revised work will be reviewed again and may require further revision before final acceptance. After your article is accepted in its final form, it is processed for the next appropriate issue of the journal. One to two years may pass from the time of acceptance for publication and the actual publication date.
Rejection
If your article is rejected, the editor will explain the reasons. You may choose to rewrite the article to fit the manuscript requirements of a different journal. Do not submit the article to multiple journals at the same time. If more than one journal accepts it for publication, it would create a conflict.
Conclusion
Everyone benefits from nursing scholarship. The nurse/author develops a greater depth of understanding on the topic while the readers gain new knowledge. Nursing practice is enhanced when nurses share their expertise with each other through journal articles.
P.S.
There are several professional websites which nurses prefer to view rather than read hard copy journals. They are seeking columnists and feature writers. Try your hand (and brain) at that. It is a good way to expand your professional network. |
