Guidelines for Manuscript Submission
Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal that explores the multiple relationships between nursing and health policy. It serves as a major source of data-based study, policy analysis, and discussion on timely, relevant policy issues for nurses in a broad variety of roles and settings, and for others who are interested in nursing-related policy issues. The journal aims to provide accessible, relevant exploration of public policy, the legislative and regulatory processes, and their impact on nursing practice, examine nurses’ roles in health policy and the political process, explore the role of nursing in the health care system and in health policy development, and provide a forum for evidence-based policy analysis, commentary, and discussion.
Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice features a range of articles on policy, politics, and nursing, including research on health services and health policy; analysis and commentary on developments in health policy of concern to nurses in a broad variety of roles and specialties; and discussion and debate on issues facing the nursing profession.
Articles reflect a variety of methods, including quantitative research, case studies, research reviews, evaluation, historical analysis, and commentary.
Format
Manuscripts should conform to the APA Publication Manual (5th Ed.). All copy should be double spaced, using 12-point font, left justification and 1-inch margins. Please include page numbers. All copy should include continuous line numbering (which can be done by using your word processing software’s line numbering feature). This greatly facilitates the process of reviewing and revising manuscripts. Tables and figures should be separate from the text, and their approximate placement should be noted in the text.
Each submission should include the following:
1. Title page, including the full article title as well as an abbreviated form of the title for a running head; the name and academic degree(s) of each author, each author's institutional affiliation, current mailing address, and business telephone and fax numbers; and the number of pages, illustrations, and tables in the manuscript.
2. An abstract of no more than 150 words and up to six key words relating to the article.
3. A separate document of not more than 20 pages containing the text of the article. This document should omit the name and any other identifying information of any of the authors.
Submission of a manuscript to Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice implies that it has not been previously published nor is it being considered for publication by another journal.
Review Process
All submitted manuscripts are evaluated by at least two reviewers. Reviewers judge manuscripts for their readability, relevance, originality, accuracy, and clear purpose. The editors seek to complete the initial peer review of each manuscript within three months of submission.
Editing
Accepted manuscripts will be edited for clarity, length, and adherence to Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice style. The author will receive an edited copy of the manuscript to review for accuracy prior to publication.
Submission
Submissions are accepted electronically via http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ppnp.
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.
