Aims & Scope
Journal of Clinical and Practical Nursing (JCPN) publishes evidence-based research advancing nursing education, professional development, healthcare systems, and quality improvement initiatives that transform nursing practice and healthcare delivery.
Nursing Education
Professional Development
Healthcare Systems
Quality Improvement
Nursing Informatics
Core Research Domains
JCPN prioritizes research that advances nursing as a profession and improves healthcare systems. Our core domains represent the highest-priority areas for publication, with fast-track review for methodologically rigorous submissions.
Nursing Education & Pedagogy
- Innovative teaching methodologies and curriculum development
- Simulation-based learning and competency assessment
- Clinical education models and preceptorship programs
- Technology-enhanced learning and digital education platforms
- Interprofessional education and collaborative practice
- Assessment strategies and learning outcome evaluation
Typical Fit Example
"Effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation versus traditional clinical training on critical thinking skills among nursing students: A randomized controlled trial"
Professional Development & Leadership
- Continuing education and lifelong learning frameworks
- Leadership development and management training
- Career advancement pathways and retention strategies
- Mentorship programs and professional socialization
- Nursing workforce planning and policy analysis
- Competency frameworks and credentialing systems
Typical Fit Example
"Impact of structured mentorship programs on nurse retention rates and job satisfaction: A multi-site cohort study"
Healthcare Systems & Quality Improvement
- Patient safety initiatives and error reduction strategies
- Quality metrics development and performance measurement
- Healthcare delivery models and care coordination
- Infection control programs and prevention protocols
- Nursing-sensitive quality indicators and outcomes
- Healthcare policy analysis and system optimization
Typical Fit Example
"Implementation of nurse-driven protocols for catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention: A quality improvement study across 15 hospitals"
Nursing Informatics & Technology
- Health information systems and electronic health records
- Clinical decision support tools and AI applications
- Telehealth and remote patient monitoring systems
- Data analytics for nursing practice improvement
- Technology adoption and implementation science
- Cybersecurity and health data privacy
Typical Fit Example
"Machine learning algorithms for predicting nursing workload: Development and validation of a predictive model using electronic health record data"
Secondary Focus Areas
These cross-disciplinary areas complement our core domains and represent important contributions to nursing knowledge. Submissions undergo standard peer review with emphasis on methodological rigor and practical implications.
Public Health Nursing
- Community health assessment and program evaluation
- Health promotion campaigns and disease prevention
- Population health management strategies
- Epidemiological surveillance and outbreak response
Nursing Ethics & Policy
- Ethical decision-making frameworks
- Healthcare policy analysis and advocacy
- Professional standards and regulatory compliance
- Social justice and health equity initiatives
Specialized Practice Areas
- Critical care nursing systems and protocols
- Emergency nursing and disaster preparedness
- Perioperative nursing and surgical services
- Forensic nursing and legal considerations
Research Methodologies
- Instrument development and psychometric validation
- Mixed-methods research designs
- Implementation science frameworks
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Emerging
Frontier Research Areas
JCPN selectively considers groundbreaking research in emerging areas that have potential to transform nursing practice and healthcare delivery. These submissions undergo additional editorial review to ensure alignment with journal scope and strategic priorities.
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in nursing workflow optimization
- Genomics and precision health approaches in nursing practice
- Virtual reality and augmented reality for nursing education and training
- Blockchain technology for healthcare data management
- Climate change impacts on nursing practice and healthcare systems
- Global health nursing and international healthcare delivery models
Note: Submissions in emerging areas must demonstrate clear relevance to nursing practice, education, or healthcare systems. Purely technical or clinical papers without nursing-specific implications will be declined.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Priority 1: Fast-Track Review
High-Impact Research
Original Research Articles
Systematic Reviews
Meta-Analyses
Methods Papers
Implementation Studies
Priority 2: Standard Review
Valuable Contributions
Short Communications
Data Notes
Perspectives
Educational Innovations
Quality Improvement Reports
Rarely Considered
Limited Acceptance
The following article types are accepted only under exceptional circumstances when they provide significant methodological innovation or address critical gaps in nursing knowledge. Authors should contact the editorial office before submission.
Literature Reviews (non-systematic)
Commentaries
Letters to Editor
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All submissions must follow appropriate reporting standards: CONSORT for trials, STROBE for observational studies, PRISMA for systematic reviews, SQUIRE for quality improvement, and COREQ for qualitative research.
Research Ethics
IRB/ethics committee approval required for human subjects research. Studies must comply with Declaration of Helsinki and local regulations. Ethics approval documentation must be provided at submission.
Data Availability
Authors must include a data availability statement. De-identified datasets should be deposited in recognized repositories when possible. Data sharing promotes transparency and reproducibility.
Preprint Policy
Preprint posting is encouraged and does not affect consideration. Authors should disclose preprint DOI at submission. Final published version should be updated with journal citation.
Conflict of Interest
All authors must disclose financial and non-financial competing interests. Funding sources must be acknowledged. Industry-sponsored research undergoes additional editorial scrutiny.
Authorship Criteria
Authors must meet ICMJE criteria: substantial contributions to conception/design, data acquisition/analysis, drafting/revising, and final approval. All contributors must be listed appropriately.
Publication Metrics & Performance
21 days
Average Time to First Decision
35%
Acceptance Rate
45 days
Time to Publication
Open
Access Model
Ready to Submit Your Research?
If your research advances nursing education, professional development, healthcare systems, or quality improvement, we invite you to submit to JCPN. Our editorial team is committed to rigorous peer review and rapid publication of high-quality research.
Contact Editorial Office
