Biological Research for Nursing
Instructions to Authors
Complete manuscripts (including illustrations, figures, etc.) should be submitted electronically at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/brn. Authors will be required to set up an online account on the Manuscript Central system powered by ScholarOne.
Submission of a manuscript implies commitment to publish in the journal. Concurrence of all listed authors is assumed. Authors submitting manuscripts to the journal should not simultaneously submit them to another journal; nor should authors submit manuscripts that have been published elsewhere in substantially similar form or with substantially similar content. Authors in doubt about what constitutes prior publication should consult the editor. There are no publication charges except for circumstances requiring special printing, color reproduction, or unusual length and number of illustrations; in these cases, the publisher will provide cost information to the authors prior to the paper being accepted for publication.
Manuscripts will be initially reviewed by the editor to ensure appropriateness for the journal. Suitable manuscripts (with the exception of dissertation abstracts) will be peer reviewed (double blind). Authors should expect to receive an initial publication decision within 2 months of submission. Copyright for all published manuscripts is vested in the publisher.
Manuscripts should be written in English, and all copy should be double spaced. Style should conform generally to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition). Manuscripts submitted should consist of the following:
1. A separate file containing a title page, including the title and a short running title, all authors’ names (indicate which author will serve as corresponding author), and the institution(s) from which the paper originates. Include also affiliation, position, and e-mail address for each author and a current mailing address and phone and fax numbers for the corresponding author. Indicate total number of pages, illustrations, and tables. Any funding or other acknowledgments should also be included in this file. This material will be kept separate from the rest of the manuscript throughout the double-blind review process.
2. A manuscript file containing the following:
a. A succinct abstract, not to exceed 250 words, in a form acceptable to most abstracting services, followed by three to six keywords.
b. For reports of empirical studies:
i. An introduction that provides a brief review of background material and clearly delineates the purpose of the study.
ii. A materials and methods section that provides sufficient detail for qualified investigators to replicate the study. Reference to published procedures by appropriate and succinct summary with citation is encouraged but should not be used to replace adequate methodological description. The journal endorses the Helsinki and the U.S. National Institutes of Health “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspol.htm). It is an expectation that authors have conscientiously and consistently followed principles and practices in accord with these documents in experiments involving human subjects and experimental animals.
iii. A results section that provides a clear and concise description of the findings with appropriate reference to illustrations and tables.
iv. A discussion section that includes a summary of the main findings, their relation to other published work in the area, and a statement of their significance, including relevance to nursing practice.
c. For theoretical, methodological, and invited papers: The papers should be organized in an appropriate, logical format for the material being addressed. Theoretical papers will be evaluated on their relevance to the focus of the journal, internal consistency, and the extent to which they contribute to advancement of knowledge of biological issues related to health and/or illness.
d. For reviews of literature: The papers should address a focused, scientific question and display a logical organization. The criteria and search strategy used for selection of articles to include in the review should be made explicit. If appropriate, a figure linking concepts together or providing the framework for the content should be included.
e. References should be listed sequentially in alphabetical order according to the last name of the first author. Format should follow APA style. References should include only sources that are cited in the text. Additionally, only papers published or in press may be included in the reference list. Papers should be cited in the text
f. Tables and illustrations should be submitted on separate pages in a form appropriate for direct reproduction. These pages may be embedded at the end of the main manuscript file or may be submitted as separate files. In preparing figures, authors should consider page format and letter size after final reproduction. The managing editor may request a hard copy of figures and/or tables to ensure appropriate formatting.
g. A list of figure captions should follow the references. A brief title and description of each illustration should be included. These are to be typed consecutively on the same page(s).
h. Abbreviations should be introduced in parentheses after the first occurrence of the term being abbreviated.
Abstracts of dissertations about biological research that is especially applicable to nursing practice may also be submitted. Dissertations must have been defended within the last 2 years. These abstracts will not be peer reviewed; the editor will make the necessary publication decisions. Abstracts should be approximately 250 words and include the following labeled sections:
Title
Author
Academic advisor
Institution
Funding source (if any)
Purpose
Methodology
Results
Relevance for nursing practice
Three to six keywords
Inquiries about the submission process or appropriate content may be directed to
Marnie Wiss, Managing Editor
Tel: 352-335-4195
Fax: 352-378-2731
Email: marnie.wiss@unlv.edu
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Authors who want to refine the use of English in their manuscripts might consider utilizing the services of SPi, a non-affiliated company that offers professional editing services to authors of journal articles in the areas of science, technology, medicine or the social sciences. SPi specializes in editing and correcting English-language manuscripts written by authors with a primary language other than English. Visit http://www.prof-editing.com for more information about SPi’s professional editing services, pricing, and turn-around times, or to obtain a free quote or submit a manuscript for language polishing.
Please be aware that SAGE has no affiliation with SPi and makes no endorsement of the company. An author’s use of SPi’s services in no way guarantees that his or her submission will ultimately be accepted. Any arrangement an author enters into will be exclusively between the author and SPi, and any costs incurred are the sole responsibility of the author.
