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Author Guidelines

Holistic Nursing Journal (HNJ)

Author Guidelines

Welcome to the Holistic Nursing Journal (HNJ). The journal is committed to advancing holistic nursing research, education, and clinical practice through the publication of high-quality, ethical, and evidence-based scholarly work. Researchers, educators, clinicians, and healthcare professionals from around the world are invited to submit their manuscripts in accordance with the following guidelines.

1. General Submission Guidelines

  • Eligibility: The journal welcomes original research articles, systematic reviews, theoretical papers, case studies, and scholarly commentaries related to holistic nursing and healthcare practice.
  • Language: All manuscripts must be submitted in English. Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to obtain professional language editing before submission.
  • Submission System: Manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the journal submission system or official journal email.

Authors are encouraged to carefully review all journal policies before submission.

  • Originality: Submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration by another journal simultaneously.
  • Journal Template: Authors should prepare manuscripts according to the official journal manuscript template.

2. Types of Manuscripts

The journal accepts the following categories:

  • Original Research Articles
  • Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
  • Narrative Review Articles
  • Theoretical and Conceptual Papers
  • Case Reports and Case Studies
  • Short Communications
  • Commentaries and Opinion Articles

3. Manuscript Structure

Title Page

The title page should include:

  • Full manuscript title
  • Full names of all authors
  • Institutional affiliations
  • Corresponding author details (email and phone number)
  • ORCID ID (recommended)

·        One corresponding author must be clearly identified for all communications with the journal.

Abstract

  • The abstract should not exceed 250 words.
  • The abstract should include:
    • Objective(s)
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Conclusion
  • An Arabic abstract is required for all accepted manuscripts.

Keywords

Provide 3–5 keywords relevant to the manuscript topic.

Main Text

Introduction

Clearly describe the background, significance, objectives, and research problem.

Methods

Include:

  • Study design
  • Study setting
  • Participants and sampling
  • Inclusion/exclusion criteria
  • Data collection procedures
  • Statistical or qualitative analysis methods
  • Ethical considerations

Results

Present findings clearly using text, tables, and figures where appropriate.

Discussion

Interpret findings, compare results with previous studies, discuss implications, limitations, and future research directions.

Conclusion

Summarize the major findings and their relevance to holistic nursing practice.

4.     Manuscript Formatting Requirements

Authors should prepare manuscripts according to the official HNJ template and comply with the following formatting requirements:

• Page size: A4.
• Margins: 2.5 cm on all sides.
• Font: Times New Roman.
• Title: 16 pt, Bold, centered.
• Author names: 12 pt, left aligned.
• Affiliations: 10 pt, left aligned.
• Main headings: 14 pt, Bold.
• Subheadings: 12 pt, Bold and numbered.
• Body text: 12 pt, justified with 1.5 line spacing.
• Abstract heading: 12 pt, Bold.
• Abstract text: 10 pt, justified.
• Keywords: 10 pt, Italic.
• Tables and figures titles: 12 pt.
• Page numbers should appear at the bottom right of each page starting from page 2.
• The total manuscript length should not exceed 10 pages, including tables, figures, and references.

5. References and Citation Style

·        References must be prepared according to the Vancouver citation style.

  • Authors are encouraged to use electronic reference management software such as:
    • EndNote
    • Mendeley
    • Zotero
    • RefWorks

These tools improve citation accuracy, consistency, and formatting efficiency.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • All in-text citations appear in the reference list.
  • All references are accurate, complete, and up to date.

6. Tables and Figures

  • Tables and figures should be clearly labeled and numbered consecutively.
  • All tables and figures must be cited within the manuscript text.
  • Figures should be of high quality and suitable for publication.

7. Ethical Considerations

Ethical Approval

Research involving human participants or animals must include approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee where applicable.

Informed Consent

Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants when required.

Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest. If no conflicts exist, authors should state:

“The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

AI-Assisted Content

Authors must disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in manuscript preparation. AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

Plagiarism

All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin or iThenticate. Manuscripts containing plagiarism or evidence of academic misconduct may be rejected.

8. Peer Review Process

  • All manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process.
  • Authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.
  • Authors may be requested to revise manuscripts based on reviewer comments.
  • Revised manuscripts must be accompanied by a detailed response letter explaining how reviewer comments were addressed.

9. Copyright and Licensing

  • Authors retain copyright of their published work.
  • By submitting a manuscript, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish and distribute the article.
  • Published articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0).

10. Publication Ethics

The journal follows the ethical standards and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Authors must ensure:

  • Originality of submitted work
  • Proper authorship attribution
  • Accurate reporting of data
  • Ethical research conduct

The journal reserves the right to issue corrections, retractions, or editorial actions in cases of ethical misconduct.

11. Article  Processing Charges (APC)

• The journal charges Article Processing Charges (APC) for accepted manuscripts only.
• Authors affiliated with institutions inside Iraq are required to pay 100,000 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) upon acceptance.
• Authors from outside Iraq are required to pay 100 USD upon acceptance.
• Payment of publication fees does not guarantee manuscript acceptance.

12. Open Access Policy

The Holistic Nursing Journal follows an open-access publishing model, providing free and immediate access to published articles to support the global dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Final Statement

The editorial team of the Holistic Nursing Journal appreciates the valuable contributions of researchers and healthcare professionals worldwide and is committed to publishing ethical, rigorous, and impactful scholarly research that advances holistic nursing practice and healthcare outcomes.

Submission Preparation Checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

  • The submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration.
  • The submission attached with cover letter
  •  All references have been checked for accuracy and completeness.
  • All tables and figures have been numbered and labeled.
  • Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets and other material provided with this submission.

Articles

Section default policy

Privacy Statement

 

Holistic Nursing Journal (HNJ)

Publication Policies

The journal follows the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1.1 Editorial Independence

  • The editorial board operates independently and makes publication decisions based solely on scientific merit, originality, ethical integrity, and relevance to the field of holistic nursing.
  • Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist.

1.2 Peer Review Process

The Holistic Nursing Journal (HNJ) follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure fairness, academic integrity, confidentiality, and high scientific standards.

Submission and Initial Screening

  • Authors submit manuscripts through the journal submission system or official journal email.
  • The editorial office conducts an initial screening to assess completeness, formatting, adherence to journal guidelines, and relevance to the journal scope.
  • All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using similarity detection software such as Turnitin or iThenticate.
  • The Editor-in-Chief or handling editor evaluates the manuscript’s suitability for peer review.

Double-Blind Peer Review

  • Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent to at least two independent reviewers with expertise relevant to the manuscript topic.
  • Reviewer identities remain anonymous to authors, and author identities remain anonymous to reviewers throughout the review process.
  • Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on:
    • Relevance to holistic nursing
    • Scientific rigor and methodology
    • Ethical considerations
    • Clarity and organization
    • Validity of results and conclusions
    • Contribution to nursing knowledge and practice

 

 

Reviewer Recommendations

Reviewers may recommend one of the following decisions:

  • Accept without revisions
  • Minor revisions
  • Major revisions
  • Reject

Editorial Decision and Revision

  • The editorial office considers reviewer comments before making a final decision.
  • If revisions are required, authors must submit a revised manuscript along with a detailed response to reviewer comments.
  • Revised manuscripts may undergo additional rounds of peer review when necessary.

Final Acceptance and Publication

  • Accepted manuscripts undergo final editing, proofreading, formatting, and preparation for publication.
  • Published articles are made available online and/or in print according to the journal publication schedule.

Appeals and Complaints

  • Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions by submitting justified scientific arguments to the editorial office.
  • Complaints and disputes are handled according to the journal ethical policies and COPE guidelines.

Editorial Policy Statement

Manuscripts should not be rejected solely on the basis of lack of novelty if the study is scientifically sound, methodologically rigorous, and ethically conducted.

 

2. Submission Policy

  • Submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration by another journal simultaneously.
  • Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, authenticity, and integrity of the submitted work.
  • All submissions must comply with the journal’s formatting and ethical requirements.

 

3. Authorship and Contributorship

3.1 Authorship Criteria

Authors must meet the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), including substantial contributions to:

  1. Study conception and design
  2. Data collection, analysis, or interpretation
  3. Drafting or critically revising the manuscript
  4. Final approval of the version to be published

5.     Accountability for all aspects of the work and ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the research.

All authors must agree to be accountable for the content of the manuscript.

3.2 Acknowledgments

  • Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.
  • Funding sources, institutional support, and technical assistance must be disclosed.

 

4. Ethical Considerations

4.1 Research Ethics

  • Research involving human participants or animals must receive approval from an appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.
  • Studies must comply with international ethical standards, including the Declaration of Helsinki.
  • Written informed consent must be obtained from participants when applicable.
  • Authors must ensure participant confidentiality and privacy protection.

4.2 Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

  • All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin or iThenticate.
  • Plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, falsification, image manipulation, or unethical research practices may result in manuscript rejection and notification of the relevant institution when necessary.

 

5. AI-Assisted Content Policy

  • Authors must disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in manuscript preparation.
  • AI tools may assist with language editing or formatting but cannot be listed as authors.
  • Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all submitted content.

 

6. Transparency and Conflict of Interest

6.1 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence their work.
  • Conflict of interest statements may be published alongside accepted articles.

6.2 Funding Transparency

  • Authors must disclose all sources of funding.
  • Authors should clearly state whether funding organizations had any role in study design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, or publication decisions.

 

7. Open Access and Copyright Policy

7.1 Open Access Policy

  • The journal follows an open-access publishing model, providing free and immediate access to all published articles.
  • Published articles are freely available to readers without subscription fees.

7.2 Copyright and Licensing

  • Authors retain copyright of their published work.
  • Articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction provided the original work is properly cited.

 

8. Article Processing Charges (APC)

  • The journal charges Article Processing Charges (APC) for accepted manuscripts to support editorial handling, peer review management, publication, and archiving services.
  • APC information and payment details are available on the journal website as follows:

v Authors affiliated with institutions inside Iraq are required to pay 100,000 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) upon acceptance.

v Authors from outside Iraq are required to pay 100 USD upon acceptance.

v Payment of publication fees does not guarantee acceptance for publication

  • Submission of manuscripts does not guarantee acceptance for publication.

 

9. Data Sharing and Availability

9.1 Data Availability

  • Authors are encouraged to provide a data availability statement describing where supporting research data can be accessed.
  • When appropriate, authors are encouraged to deposit datasets in recognized open repositories such as Zenodo or Figshare.

9.2 Supplementary Materials

  • Authors may submit supplementary files, datasets, questionnaires, or appendices to support transparency and reproducibility.

 

10. Post-Publication Policies

10.1 Corrections and Retractions

  • Minor errors that do not affect the scientific integrity of the article may be corrected through an erratum or corrigendum.
  • Articles involving major errors, misconduct, or ethical violations may be retracted according to COPE guidelines.

10.2 Complaints and Appeals

  • Authors and readers may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions, ethical concerns, or publication processes.
  • All complaints will be handled confidentially and according to COPE Best Practice Guidelines.

 

11. Archiving and Preservation Policy

The journal is committed to ensuring the long-term digital preservation and accessibility of published content through institutional repositories, the Iraqi Academic Scientific Journals (IASJ) platform, and other archiving systems.

 

 

Final Statement

The Holistic Nursing Journal (HNJ) is dedicated to promoting high-quality, ethical, and evidence-based research that advances holistic nursing education, practice, leadership, and healthcare outcomes.