For Authors

Papers must be prepared using standard American Psychological Association manuscript format (APA, 7th ed., 2019). Length should be targeted at about 3,000 words (12–15 pages), exclusive of tables, figures, insets, and references. Articles considerably shorter or longer than 3,000 words will not be considered for review and will be returned to the author for revision. Authorship opportunities also are available for CJON's department articles, which have a target word count of 1,700–2,000 words (with the exception of Clinical Moment, which is 600–700 words). View the CJON manuscript preparation resource and the manuscript requirements in conjunction with these author guidelines.

Manuscripts must be uploaded to Editorial Manager. Assistance is available by contacting pubCJON@ons.org.

Authors/Contributors: Each author should have participated sufficiently in manuscript preparation. Contributors, such as those who provide technical help, general support, etc., should be listed in an acknowledgment. Proper credit must be given so that it is transparent to readers who has been involved in the manuscript development. CJON endorses the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations for authorship. All authors must disclose financial relationships.

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.

Abstracts: An abstract is required for all manuscripts. All abstracts must be double spaced and include no more than 200 words. The following headings should be used.

• Background
• Objectives
• Methods
• Findings

Keywords: Please supply three to six keywords. For examples, visit the MeSH Browser.

Implications for Practice: Provide three concise implications for nursing practice and patient education as reported in the article.

Case Studies: Authors are encouraged to include case studies as appropriate to better showcase real-world application of the article's content to readers. 

Artwork: 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 copyright owner. 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: High-resolution (300 dpi) black-and-white or color photographs can be submitted electronically in most common file formats.

References: Manuscripts should be well referenced, and citations from the previous 5 years are preferred. If citing older references, include only pertinent, seminal sources. 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. 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.

Authors should do the following when submitting a manuscript to CJON via Editorial Manager.

• Include information for all contributing authors.
• Include a title page, abstract, and three implications for practice. Note: The title page should include the names, credentials, affiliations, and funding for all of the authors.
• Complete the copyright transfer and financial disclosure form, which transfers the article's copyright to the Oncology Nursing Society. All authors must complete this form so that the manuscript can proceed to peer review. If the manuscript is not accepted, copyright will transfer back to the authors. This form is sent via email upon successful manuscript submission.
• Send permission letters for online and print use for previously published and copyrighted material. If you are unsure if your table or figure requires permission, contact pubCJON@ons.org.

Receipt of all manuscripts will be acknowledged.

Review Process: Manuscripts will undergo a double-blind peer-review process, which takes approximately six weeks. Reviewers’ comments will be shared with authors. Accepted manuscripts are subject to editorial revision for clarity, punctuation, grammar, syntax, and conformity to journal style and length. When necessary, substantive revisions will be done by the author based on feedback from the editor and peer reviewers. The author will have an opportunity to review the final manuscript before publication.

Author Rights: ONS grants the author the nonexclusive right to (a) reproduce, distribute photocopies of, and publicly display the article in the course of nonprofit teaching and research activities; (b) post the article on his or her personal website or that of the author's employer, provided any such site has commercially reasonable safeguards, including password protection, in place to protect against unauthorized copying or distribution of content; (c) prepare, reproduce, distribute, and publicly display derivative works from the article, provided that, with respect to (a), (b), and (c) above, CJON is cited as the source of first publication of the article and that ONS is clearly indicated as the owner of the copyrights in the article. The sharing of any full-text version of the article via or facilitated by ResearchGate or any other social networking website is strictly prohibited. In compliance with National Institutes of Health funding requirements and no sooner than six months after the article's publication, the author is permitted to post on PubMed Central the original draft of the article submitted for publication.

Letters to the Editor: Selection of letters to be published is the decision of the editor. For acceptance, letters must be signed. All letters are subject to editing. A letter that questions, criticizes, or responds to a previously published article automatically will be sent to the author of that article for a reply. This type of collegial exchange is encouraged. Send letters to CJONEditor@ons.org. 

Online Versus Print Publication: Selection of articles for print versus online publication is at the discretion of the editor.

Have you ever thought about writing a full-length article for a peer-reviewed journal but don’t know where to start? Do you have an idea but lack publishing experience and writing mentorship support? The CJON Writing Mentorship Program can help. The mentorship program pairs burgeoning writers with published authors to produce an article over the course of six months. You and your mentor will develop an open line of communication to discuss any issues that may arise while planning and writing your article. At the end of six months, you will submit your article for publication in an issue of CJON.

To be eligible to be a fellow, you must meet the following criteria.

• Be an ONS member.

• Be a direct caregiver of any educational level who have never before published an article or department in a peer-reviewed journal or published a book chapter. You may, however, have published articles in your SIG, chapter, or hospital newsletters.

• Have basic computer skills and access to a computer.

• Complete an application.

​To apply to the program, submit an application and your resume/CV to pubCJON@ons.org. 

Experienced Authors Seeking Mentoring Opportunities

Are you a published author who wants to help new writers publish an article for the first time? Do you want to share your experience as an author with others? You would be a perfect match for the CJON Writing Mentorship Program. As a mentor in the program, you will be paired with a new nurse author to assist in the publication process. You will be available to answer questions, give feedback, and provide support to your fellow.

To be eligible to be a mentor, you must meet the following criteria.

• Be an ONS member.

• Have experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

• Be motivated to help new writers learn the ropes of publishing.

• Current ONS staff members are not eligible to apply. Review board members are eligible.

To apply to the program, submit an application and your resume/CV to pubCJON@ons.org.

Have a question? The author FAQs below are divided by phase of the publishing process. Or, contact us at pubCJON@ons.org.

Submission

What do I need to include in my submission?

Be sure to review the complete author guidelines first. Then, when you submit, include your manuscript and any tables or figures, as well as the following: 

• Title page, including names, credentials, affiliations, contact information, and funding for all authors
• Abstract
• Three implications for practice 
• Permission letters for previously published and copyrighted material 

Is there a limit to the number of authors that can appear on a paper?

We do not limit the number of authors; however, each author should have participated sufficiently in manuscript preparation. Contributors, such as those who provide technical help, general support, etc., should be listed in an acknowledgment. 

Is there a fee to publish in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing?

There are no author or page fees for the journal.

Is there a minimum or maximum requirement for tables and figures?

There is no minimum or maximum number of tables and figures within a manuscript. However, tables and figures should not repeat the text and should be critical for understanding. An average number of tables and figures within a manuscript is five. Note that noncritical content may be eliminated for space limitations.

Can I publish my thesis, dissertation, or DNP capstone or final project?

These types of submissions are not appropriate in entirety. Manuscripts that are substantially similar to or the same as a previously published dissertation, thesis, or DNP capstone or ifnal project will not be considered for publication. Text, tables, figures, etc., should be paraphrased to avoid duplication (self-plagiarism) and content should be substantially condensed. 

One of my coauthors accidentally declined affiliation. Help!

Please contact us at pubCJON@ons.org to have the author status reset. 

I’m a coauthor. When I click the link to confirm my affiliation, I get an error message or do not see the questionnaire. How do I confirm my affiliation?

Ensure you are not already logged in to Editorial Manager when you click the link. If you are not logged in to an existing account and problems persist, contact pubCJON@ons.org for assistance. 

Can I elect for my manuscript to be published in print or online?

Selection of articles for print versus online publication is at the discretion of the editor.

Peer Review

I submitted a paper a while ago and the status in Editorial Manager still is “Manuscript Submitted.” Why hasn’t it been reviewed?

Manuscripts do not proceed to the editor or peer reviewers until all authors have confirmed they are affiliated with the manuscript and completed their conflict of interest and disclosure. This status indicates one author (or more) has not completed those required documents.

My manuscript status is “Removed by Editor.” What happened?

There are two possibilities: (a) One author or more has not confirmed or has denied affiliation with the manuscript or (b) one author or more has not completed the conflict of interest and disclosure information. If this is not completed for 3-4 weeks, the submission is removed from consideration. 

My manuscript status is “Removed by Editor.” Can it be reinstated if all authors complete the forms now?

Once a manuscript is removed, it is deleted and cannot be reinstated. The manuscript can be submitted again, and all authors will need to confirm their manuscript affiliation and submit their conflict of interest and disclosure information.

When will I know if a decision has been made for my manuscript?

The average time from submission to first decision is 4-6 weeks. For the status of your specific manuscript, contact pubCJON@ons.org. 

Production 

Why was I asked to provide copyright permissions?

Authors must acquire and provide permissions for all figures and tables they want to use that have been previously published. This includes work created by a colleague, coworker, or friend who gave verbal permission but is not an author. Copyright may be held by a journal, institution, or individual. 

A table or figure in my manuscript is original, but I was asked to provide permission when my manuscript entered production. What do I do?

If we cannot definitively determine whether a table or figure is original, we will ask for copyright permission as a precaution. If the content is original, contact pubCJON@ons.org to notify us.

How long will I have to respond to queries from the editor and copy editors? 

Authors have at least three days to reply but will be provided a specific deadline with the article layout. Please adhere to this timeline to avoid delaying publication.

I won’t be available when my manuscript is in production. What if I am late responding to queries?

Please provide us with the dates of your anticipated scheduling conflicts. We may be able to adjust the production schedule to accommodate you.

Can I share my article on ResearchGate or similar platforms once it is published?

Authors are not permitted to share the full text of their article on any social media or third-party website but may provide links to their online publications.

What does the timeline look like once my manuscript enters production?

Timelines can vary but generally look something like this:

• Three months before the issue of publication: Authors receive an email indicating their article is entering active production with a reminder to submit any permissions. 
• Two months before the issue of publication: Authors receive the manuscript’s layout to review, address any queries, and make final changes. Notify us if you will be unreachable for an extended period of time in the two months before publication.
• One month before the issue of publication: Authors receive the final version of the article as well as a satisfaction survey.