Peer Review Process

The peer review process for academic journals like the International Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences generally follows a structured sequence to ensure the quality and integrity of published research. While specific procedures can vary between journals, here’s a broad outline of how the process typically works:

  1. Submission: An author submits their manuscript through the journal’s online submission system or via email. The submission usually includes the manuscript itself, a cover letter, and sometimes supplementary materials like figures or data sets.

  2. Initial Screening: The journal’s editorial office conducts an initial screening to ensure the manuscript fits within the scope of the journal and meets basic formatting and quality standards. They also check for any issues related to plagiarism or ethical concerns.

  3. Editorial Review: If the manuscript passes the initial screening, it is assigned to an editor (often an associate editor or section editor) who conducts a more thorough review. This stage involves assessing the manuscript’s originality, significance, and adherence to the journal’s guidelines.

  4. Reviewer Selection: The editor selects appropriate peer reviewers who are experts in the field related to the manuscript’s topic. These reviewers are usually researchers or professionals with relevant experience and knowledge.

  5. Peer Review: The manuscript is sent to the selected reviewers, who evaluate it based on criteria such as originality, methodology, significance, and clarity. Reviewers provide feedback, suggest improvements, and make recommendations regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection.

  6. Reviewer Feedback: The reviews are sent back to the editor, who reviews the feedback and makes a decision based on the reviewers’ comments. The editor may request revisions from the author, reject the manuscript, or make a decision to accept it.

  7. Revisions: If revisions are requested, the author revises the manuscript accordingly and resubmits it. The revised manuscript may be sent back to the original reviewers for further evaluation or to new reviewers.

  8. Final Decision: After reviewing the revised manuscript and any additional feedback, the editor makes a final decision. If accepted, the manuscript moves to the production phase.

  9. Production: The accepted manuscript undergoes copyediting, formatting, and proofreading. The final version is prepared for publication, and the author is typically given a chance to review the proof.

  10. Publication: The manuscript is published in the journal, either in print, online, or both, depending on the journal's format.

  11. Post-Publication: The published article may be subject to post-publication comments or corrections. The journal may also track citations and impact of the article.

Throughout this process, the integrity and confidentiality of the peer review are maintained to ensure that the evaluation is fair and unbiased.