Section Policy

The Celebes Nursing Journal (CNJ) publishes a range of scholarly article types that contribute to the advancement of nursing science, practice, and education. Each section has specific editorial expectations, methodological requirements, and peer-review procedures designed to ensure academic rigor, ethical integrity, and clarity of communication. These section-level policies complement the journal’s general editorial and ethical guidelines and provide authors, reviewers, and editors with a clear operational framework.
All submissions must comply with CNJ’s Publication Ethics, Peer Review Policy, COPE Core Practices, and applicable reporting guidelines (EQUATOR Network). Section assignments are determined by the editors based on manuscript structure, purpose, and scientific contribution.

1. Original Research Articles
Original Research Articles present new empirical findings derived from quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research designs. These manuscripts must demonstrate methodological rigor, contribute to existing scientific knowledge, and address relevant issues in nursing practice, education, public health, or related fields.
This section undergoes a full double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers with appropriate subject expertise. Manuscripts are evaluated for scientific merit, methodological soundness, ethical compliance, originality, and clarity of presentation.

Section Requirements
Original Research Articles must:

Present original, unpublished empirical data
Follow an appropriate reporting guideline (e.g., CONSORT, STROBE, COREQ, SRQR, or other EQUATOR standards)
Include the required sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion
Provide clear descriptions of study design, sampling, instruments, data analysis, and ethics approval
Include tables/figures that do not duplicate text
Exhibit high-quality academic English and precise scientific terminology

Word limit: 4,000–6,000 words
Peer review: Double-blind
Submissions: Open
Indexed: Yes

2. Review Articles
Review Articles synthesize existing literature to provide comprehensive, critical, and methodologically sound overviews of current knowledge on a specific topic. CNJ accepts systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and narrative reviews, with an emphasis on methodological transparency and contribution to nursing scholarship.
Systematic and scoping reviews must adhere to internationally recognized standards to ensure reproducibility and reduce bias.

Section Requirements
Review Articles must:

Demonstrate a clear rationale and research question
Follow the appropriate reporting guideline (e.g., PRISMA, PRISMA-ScR)
Include a structured methodology section describing search strategy, eligibility criteria, and synthesis approach
Ensure at least 80% of references are from the past five years
Provide analytical, not descriptive, synthesis
Include a PRISMA flow diagram for systematic reviews

Word limit: Up to 7,000 words
Peer review: Double-blind
Submissions: Open
Indexed: Yes

3. Case Reports
Case Reports provide detailed descriptions of clinical cases that offer important insights into nursing practice, unusual presentations, rare conditions, or innovative interventions. Their purpose is to enhance clinical understanding and contribute to professional development through lessons learned.
Case Reports must strictly follow ethical standards, including patient consent and confidentiality protections.

Section Requirements
Case Reports must:

Follow the CARE reporting guidelines
Provide a structured presentation: Abstract, Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion, References
Explain the clinical relevance and educational value of the case
Obtain written informed consent for any identifiable information
Include no more than two tables or figures

Word limit: Up to 1,500 words
Peer review: Double-blind
Submissions: Open
Indexed: Yes

4. Perspectives
Perspectives articles provide scholarly reflections, conceptual explorations, theoretical insights, or critical viewpoints on emerging issues in nursing and healthcare. They are less data-driven and more argumentative or exploratory, offering new ways of thinking about practice, policy, or research.
This section is suitable for thought-provoking academic contributions that advance discourse in nursing.

Section Requirements
Perspectives must:

Present clear, well-supported arguments
Demonstrate relevance to contemporary nursing issues
Use high-quality scholarly writing and evidence-based reasoning
Include an unstructured abstract of 150–250 words
Use up to 25 recent references

Word limit: Up to 2,500 words
Peer review: Editorial review or double-blind, depending on content
Submissions: Open
Indexed: Yes

5. Editorials
Editorials provide authoritative commentary on issues relevant to the journal’s mission, including contemporary developments, policy implications, emerging evidence, or reflections on articles published in the issue. Editorials represent the scholarly perspectives of experts, invited contributors, or members of the editorial board.
Editorials are typically invited, but unsolicited proposals may be considered at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief, particularly when they offer exceptional relevance or scholarly value.

Section Requirements
Editorials must:

Present well-reasoned, evidence-informed, and balanced viewpoints
Demonstrate clarity, conciseness, and scholarly authority
Address issues of significance to nursing science, education, practice, or policy
Be written by qualified experts, senior scholars, or editorial board members

Word limit: 1,500–3,000 words
Peer review model: Editorial review (external peer review may be requested when appropriate)
Submissions: Typically invited; unsolicited proposals may be considered (editorial discretion)
Indexed: Yes