Peer Review Process

Celebes Nursing Journal (CNJ) applies a double-blind peer review process to ensure the integrity, objectivity, and scientific quality of each published manuscript.
In this process, both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to guarantee fairness and impartiality in editorial decision-making.
The peer review process follows these sequential stages:

1. Manuscript Submission
The process begins when the author submits the manuscript through CNJ’s online submission system.
All manuscripts must comply with the Author Guidelines, formatting requirements, and ethical standards of the journal.

2. Initial Editorial Screening
The Editor conducts an initial assessment to evaluate the relevance of the manuscript to the journal’s aims and scope, originality, methodological rigor, and adherence to submission requirements.

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria are desk rejected.
Manuscripts deemed suitable are forwarded to the peer review stage.

3. Reviewer Assignment
The Editor assigns two independent reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers are selected based on scholarly background, publication record, and absence of conflicts of interest.

4. Double-Blind Peer Review
During this stage, reviewers critically assess the manuscript’s scientific validity, clarity, data accuracy, methodology, and ethical compliance. They provide constructive, evidence-based comments to help authors improve the quality of their work.
Reviewers may recommend:

Acceptance with minor or major revision
Rejection
Resubmission after substantial revision

5. Revision and Resubmission
If revisions are required, the manuscript is returned to the author for modification according to the reviewers’ comments.

Authors must resubmit the revised manuscript within the designated timeframe.
A response letter must accompany the revision, addressing each reviewer’s comment point by point.

6. Review Evaluation
The Editor reassesses the revised submission and may seek additional input from reviewers to confirm that all issues have been adequately addressed.
The final decision may result in acceptance, rejection, or further revision.

7. Final Decision and Production
Once accepted, the manuscript enters copyediting, layout, and proofreading stages to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to publication standards.
The finalized version is prepared for online publication.

8. Publication
Accepted articles are published online as open access, ensuring global dissemination to nursing researchers and practitioners.

9. Ethical and Quality Assurance
The CNJ peer review process adheres to COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers .
All editorial decisions are made transparently by the Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Editorial Board when necessary.
The review process ensures:
  □ Academic and ethical integrity
  □ Transparent and fair editorial decisions
  □ Reviewer accountability and professionalism
  □ Timely and consistent evaluation of manuscripts