Leadership & Professional Development

Preparing Research Manuscripts for Publication: A Guide for Authors

Ben Berkey

Susan Moore

nursing research, clinical nursing research
ONF 2012, 39(5), 433-435. DOI: 10.1188/12.ONF.433-435

The publication of peer-reviewed research articles is a hallmark of nurse leadership. Research is the foundation of evidence-based practice (EBP), a rigorous methodology defined by Sackett, Strauss, Richardson, Rosenberg, and Haynes (2000) as integration of the best research, clinical expertise, and patient values. The process of EBP ensures that nurses and other healthcare team members use methodologically and statistically sound research to produce guidelines or recommendations for treatment and patient-care decisions (Doorenbos et al., 2008). By ensuring that research used for clinical decision making is valid and accurately reported, healthcare teams can put recommendations into practice with confidence. An interesting research project or unique concept is not enough to guarantee that a manuscript will be accepted for peer review or recommended by the peer reviewers for publication. Publication depends on solid methodology, accurate references, potentially reproducible statistical outcomes, and conclusions drawn from the research.

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