This document provides criteria for selecting a journal to publish in, including scope, editorial boards, peer review process, time to publication, indexing, access model (subscription or open access), and potential publication costs. The scope and "author guidelines" describe what types of manuscripts are accepted. Editorial boards oversee the journal's focus and quality. Peer review provides feedback to improve manuscripts. Indexing ensures the journal is discoverable. Publication costs, if any, should be considered during selection.

1. Selecting a Journal:
Potential Criteria to
Review
Created by EMJ
12/2019

2. After finding 3 to 4 journal
titles, use the following
criteria to make a decision
to target a publication…

3. Getting Started…
 The majority of the evaluation criteria can be found in the journal's
"author guidelines" or "instructions for authors" and using
UlrichsWeb/Ulrich's Periodical Directory.
 The information provided contains simplified explanations of these
concepts in publishing process. Should you have any questions
about any of these criteria of evaluation, please contact your
Nursing Liaison Librarian.

4. Scope of the Publication
 The scope is the broad focus of the publication
 It might also be called the “Editorial Purpose”
 Because the DNP project is not research, it is important to check if
clinical and quality improvement manuscripts are accepted by your
target journal
 Information on the journal scope can be found on the “About” page
or in the ”Author Guidelines” information

5. An example of a journal’s scope
Journal of Nursing Care Quality

6. Editorial Boards
 Review who is part of the the governing body of the journal.
 Are they known scholars in that discipline or focus of practice?
 Journals should publicly post information about the role and
expertise of the group guiding the scope of the journal.
 Example of an editorial board webpage: Public Health Nursing
Journal

7. Peer Review
 Meant to be a quality check of the
manuscript if it meets current nursing
practice and standards
 An editor of a journal will find peers
knowledgeable of your topic to review
your manuscript and provide feedback
on areas of improvement.
 While it can be challenging to respond
to criticism, know that the majority of
reviewers are trying to make the
manuscript and your project better.

8. Time until Publication
 An estimate provided by the
journal of the time it takes to
process the
 Editorial Review
 Peer Review
 Manuscript Editing
 Formatting for Publication
 Generally, the process can take
from 6 to 18 months

9. Indexing
 Double check that your targeted journal is indexed in databases
you and your peers search
 CINAHL and/or PubMed/MEDLINE are databases frequently used by
the nursing field
 Review ”Abstracting & Indexing” information using UlrichsWeb via
the UIC Library Databases list

10. Indexing information in UlrichsWeb Database
Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing

11. Subscription-based or Open Access?
 Essentially, choosing between the traditional
vs. open access publishing models comes
down to access to the articles
 Subscription-based publishing requires readers
or libraries to pay a subscription fee for access
 Open access is available to readers and libraries
at no fee
 As this is a very complex, and often
controversial area of the publication process,
please review the area of the guide on
Scholarly Publication Models and Your Rights
as an Author and contact your Nursing Liaison
Librarian with any questions
Open Access Logo

12. Cost to Publish
 Some journals, particularly in Open
Access publications, will assess a
publication fee. Publication fees can
range from $500 to $4500 depending
on the publication
 Make sure this fee is something you are
willing to pay or your institution is willing
to cover prior to the submission of your
article
 One funding opportunity to cover a
portion of a publication fee is the
ROAAP fund administered by the UIC
Library

13. We hope this information was helpful to
your evaluation of potential journal
publications. Please contact the Nursing
Liaison Librarians with any questions
you may have.