Applied Nursing Research is a refereed research journal devoted to advancing nursing as a research-based profession. Applied Nursing Research is focused on bridging the gap between research and practice. Manuscripts representing all clinical nursing specialties and nursing care delivery are invited.

Original Articles

Authors should present original research findings and the applications to practice. In the manuscript clearly articulate the research purpose(s) and/or questions, background, research methods (design, sample, instrumentation, procedures, and analyses), results, and conclusions. Authors are expected to present material in a style that highlights applications for nursing practice.

The manuscript should be limited to no more than 20 pages (including references and tables). A structured abstract of no more than 150 words should accompany the manuscript and include the following: aim, background, methods, results, conclusions. Key words (3-5) should be listed on the abstract page. Each table should be included on a separate page and submitted in a separate file. Key references should be limited to works published in the last 10 years (except for seminal work). Figures, photographs, and illustrations are welcome and each should be included in a separate file.

Publication decisions are based on the peer-reviewers’ and editors’ evaluations.

Clinical Methods

Papers submitted for consideration in the Clinical Methods section should address methodological issues or techniques that are of concern to nurses conducting clinical research. Papers submitted for publication in the Clinical Methods section should be 8 to 12 double-spaced, typewritten pages, including tables, illustrations/figures, and key references.

Research Briefs

Abstracts of completed pilot research are invited. The emphasis should be on recommendations for future research. Research Briefs should be limited to no more than 6 pages (including references and tables).Theory: Applications to ResearchThis new column features theory relevant to nursing research. Entries should be limited to no more than 6 pages (including references and tables).

Special Features

Review papers or papers on timely issues or topics related to the "state of nursing research" are desired. International Column

This feature is designed to serve as a forum for exchanging perspectives on nursing research and scholarship from around the world. Papers are reviewed and commented on by the author's international colleagues, and their comments are published along with the original paper. Papers should be focused on state of the art issues in nursing. Papers should be no longer than 5 pages.

Format

All manuscripts must be submitted in typed, double-spaced format with pages numbered. On the cover sheet include the title of the manuscript and names, complete postal addresses, telephone numbers (i.e., work, home, and fax), and e-mail addresses of all authors. Also, provide the complete credentials and clinical and/or academic affiliation of all authors, and any acknowledgements. Author(s) identification should not appear elsewhere.

For submissions to all sections, guidelines in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition, should be used for manuscript format (e.g., short title on each page, style and inclusion of tables, statistics reporting, and references). Drawings or illustrations must be submitted camera-ready; photographs must be black and white and of a quality that can clearly be reproduced.

Reference Examples:

Journal article in a journal with continuous pagination:

Albert, N.M., & Siedlecki, S.L. (2008). Developing and implementing a nursing research team in a clinical setting. Journal of Nursing Administration, 38 (2), 90–96.

Complete book:

Fitzpatrick, J. J., & Kazer, M. W. (Eds.). (2011). Encyclopedia of nursing research (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer.

Illustrations

Black and white photographs, diagrams, and graphs may be used to illustrate findings and emphasize clinical applications. Photographs are to be 5 x 8-inch glossies. Photographs of recognizable individuals must be accompanied by releases signed by each person appearing in the photograph; guardians must sign for minors. Photographs of clinical actions are preferred.

Diagrams, graphs, and line drawings must be professionally rendered and submitted as camera-ready art. Laser-printed graphics that have been computer-generated are acceptable. Please call the Production Editor at (215) 238-5641 if you have questions regarding illustrations.

If any table, photograph, or illustration has been published previously, a copy of the letter or permission from the copyright holder must accompany the manuscript. The source should be included among the references to the paper. The table or illustration legend should conclude with the "Reprinted with permission" information. See the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 6th edition, for the specific format.

Sidebars. A sidebar is a brief, boxed segment of text that appears within an original article. It can be used to present a case study, report the author's experience related to the topic of the study, or discuss similar experiences in other settings. Recommendations for further research or policy implications can be submitted as a sidebar. Sidebars should be typed, double-spaced, on a separate sheet of paper with the heading "Sidebar" and the article title appearing at the top of each page. Generally, a sidebar is no more than one page, and only one sidebar should be submitted with each article.

Submission and Review Process

Authors can submit their manuscripts to the Elsevier Applied Nursing Research Website at the following address: http://ees.elsevier.com/anr/ .

Authors should submit a cover letter explicitly stating the section of the journal for which the manuscript is being submitted. Also, please include, with the submitted manuscript, any publication where the same content or data set has been used, and summarize in your cover letter how this submitted manuscript is different. If there are no other publications, please state this in your letter.

Direct editorial questions to: Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, RN, FAAN, at anrjournal@hotmail.com.

The review decision is sent to the first author or the designated corresponding author. Edited manuscripts are submitted to the first author for approval.

Manuscripts are accepted for publication on the conditions that they are submitted solely to this journal, that the material is original, and that it has not been previously published.

Proofreading

Galley proofs are sent to the first author. They are to be checked for errors and returned to the Publisher within 48 hours. Authors will be charged for excessive alterations in proofs.

Copyright

Authors contributing a manuscript do so with the understanding that, once it is accepted for publication, copyright of the article, including the right to reproduce the article in all forms of media, shall be assigned exclusively to the Publisher.

Updated November 2011