Manuscript Preparation

Papers must be prepared using standard manuscript format according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) (6th ed., 2009). Length should be no more than 3,000 words (12-15 pages), exclusive of tables, figures, insets, and references. Articles longer than 3,000 words will not be considered for review and will be returned to the author for revision.

Manuscripts must be double spaced on 8.5" × 11" page size, with at least one-inch margins on all sides. Upload the entire document to the system following the instructions provided on Manuscript Central. Assistance is available by contacting ONS Editorial Assistant Natalie Tooch at +1-412-859-6303 or e-mail.

Authors/Contributors

Proper credit must be given so that it is transparent to readers who has been involved in the manuscript development.¹CJON endorses the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations for authorship. All authors must disclose financial relationships.

Each author should have participated sufficiently in manuscript preparation to take public responsibility for portions or the entirety of the manuscript. All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed in an acknowledgment. Examples of those who might be acknowledged include those who provided purely technical help, writing assistance, or general support.

Title page

Titles should be brief, specific, and descriptive. The full names of all of the article's authors, as well as their degrees, titles, affiliations, and financial disclosures, if applicable, should be included.

Abstract

An abstract is required for all manuscripts. All abstracts must be double spaced and include no more than 200 words summarizing the article and highlighting the implications for clinical practice.

Implications for Practice

Please provide three concise implications for nursing practice and patient education as reported in the article.

Art

Original art should be included to create interest and augment learning. Reprinted or adapted art also is acceptable with accompanying online and print permission from the author(s) and publisher. Examples of art that require permission include photographs taken at an institution or of patients and previously published figures and tables.

• Tables: Each should be typed on a separate page at the end of the text.
• Figures: Figures should be professionally drawn or computer generated and included on separate pages at the end of the manuscript.
• Photographs: Authors are encouraged to submit photos that are relevant to their articles for possible use. High-resolution (300 dpi) black-and-white or color photographs can be submitted electronically in most common file formats.

References

The reference list (not a bibliography) must be typed and double spaced and follow APA format (in text and reference list). Use APA's recommended formats for electronic references. All references must be cited at least once in the text. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all reference citations and are expected to have read and verified all of the listed references.

Resources

Space may be available to include a list of resources for readers interested in additional information on your topic. If possible, please include this content with the manuscript.

¹ International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. (2007). Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals: Writing and editing for biomedical publication. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from http://www.icmje.org