About the Journal

The Quarterly Journal of Nursing Management is published with the aim of strengthening scientific discourse and advancing specialized knowledge in the fields of nursing management and leadership. The journal provides a credible platform for the publication of original research findings, systematic reviews, applied reports, and innovations in clinical, educational, and managerial practice that contribute to improving quality of care, informing health policy, and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of nursing systems.

By bringing together the perspectives and experiences of nurse leaders, managers, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers, the journal seeks to build a bridge between theoretical knowledge and professional practice. Special attention is given to emerging challenges in health systems, quality improvement in clinical services, resource management, workforce empowerment, new technologies, professional ethics, and patient safety.

It is hoped that publication of this journal will support professional development, promote evidence-informed decision-making, and elevate the scientific status of nursing management at the national level. The Quarterly Journal of Nursing Management is a specialized clinical, educational, and managerial nursing journal that publishes articles related to the nursing profession, nursing education, and nursing management.

Types of Articles

The journal accepts manuscripts in the following formats:

1. Original Research Articles
   Empirical papers based on a rigorously designed research protocol and robust scientific evidence. These manuscripts must include the following sections: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Ethical Considerations, and References.

2. Review Articles
   Scholarly articles that provide a comprehensive, critical analysis and synthesis of the existing literature in a clearly defined area relevant to nursing, nursing management, or health policy. Authors are expected to clearly describe their search strategy and inclusion criteria (especially for systematic reviews).

3. Case Studies
   In-depth analyses of a particular case, individual, group, organization, intervention, program, or event. Case studies should highlight implications for nursing practice, management, or policy.

4. Policy Briefs
   Concise, clear, and evidence-based reports designed to provide practical recommendations for decision-makers in relation to a defined problem in health and nursing. Policy briefs should explicitly link evidence to suggested policy or managerial actions.

5. Team-Work Articles
   Manuscripts arising from collaborative work in nursing education and management at the national (e.g., inter-university collaborations) or international level. These papers should clearly detail the collaborative nature of the work, the contribution of each institution, and implications for system-level improvement.

6. Commentaries
   Interpretive or critical papers that present a well-argued perspective, alternative viewpoint, or novel insight on a key issue of interest to a broad community of scholars and practitioners.

7. Letters to the Editor
   Short communications through which readers, researchers, or professionals may share comments, critiques, or analyses of articles previously published in the journal, or address issues relevant to nursing, nursing management, or nursing education.

General Policies

1. Journal Language
   The official language of the journal is Persian, with an extended English abstract for each accepted article.

2. Originality and Duplicate Submission
   Submitted manuscripts must not have been previously published, in whole or in part, in any national or international journal, and must not be under simultaneous consideration elsewhere. The academic rank of all authors should be accurately stated, and all authors must be fully aware of and agree with the submission and potential publication of the manuscript. Authors must confirm these points by signing the authors’ commitment form.

3. Submission System
   Authors must submit two electronic files of their manuscript—one with author names and affiliations and one fully anonymized—together with a cover letter via the online submission system at: www.ijnv.ir. The journal does not accept submissions by postal mail or ordinary email.

4. Abbreviations
   Special terms or abbreviations used in the text, tables, or figures should be limited to standard, widely recognized abbreviations. Each abbreviation must be defined in full at first mention in the text, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.

5. Ethics Approval and Ethics Code

   • A formal ethics approval letter (in PDF format) from the National Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research must be uploaded at submission, and the ethics approval code must be explicitly stated in the manuscript.

   • The study must comply with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki for research involving human participants.

   • In clinical and human studies, informed consent must be obtained from all participants (or their legal guardians), and this must be clearly indicated in the manuscript. A copy of signed consent forms or a statement of the process should be available and, if requested, submitted to the journal.

6. Authors’ Commitment Form
   A fully completed and signed authors’ commitment form (including correct order of authors and confirmation of their contributions) must be submitted.

   Important: After initial submission, no addition, deletion, or reordering of authors’ names is allowed.

7. Extended English Abstract
   An extended English abstract of 800–1000 words must be submitted no later than one month after acceptance of the article by the corresponding author. The structure and details of this abstract are described below.

8. Figures, Tables, and Images

   • All figures, diagrams, and tables must be of sufficient resolution and quality for print.

   • Each table should be placed on a separate page and numbered consecutively; table titles appear above the table.

   • Figures and graphs should also be placed on separate pages, with their titles below the figure.

   • Images of individuals must be anonymized such that the person is not identifiable.

9. Formatting and Layout

   • Manuscripts should be prepared using Microsoft Word 2003 or later.

   • Paper size: A4, with margins of 2.5 cm on all sides.

   • Line spacing: 1.5.

   • Persian text: Mitra, size 12.

   • English text: Times New Roman, size 11.

   • The file name should clearly identify the manuscript.

10. Time Limit from Data Collection to Submission
    No more than five years should have elapsed between completion of data collection and submission of the article.

11. Responsibility for Content
    The accuracy and validity of the content are the sole responsibility of the authors.

12. Editorial Rights
    The journal reserves the right to reject, accept, edit, shorten, or otherwise modify all submitted manuscripts. Submitted manuscripts and their attachments will not be returned.

13. Ethical Requirements for Clinical Studies
    Articles reporting clinical studies on humans will be accepted only if ethical principles have been observed and approved by the relevant institutional ethics committee. Compliance with ethical standards and consent procedures must be clearly described in the manuscript.

14. Copyright and Reuse
    Reproduction of material published in the journal is permitted provided the Quarterly Journal of Nursing Management is cited as the source.

15. Publication Frequency for Authors
    In each issue, only one article from any individual as first author or corresponding author will be published.

16. Case Study Structure

    • Abstract: structured, including Introduction, Case Presentation, and Conclusion.

    • Text: Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion.

    • Number of references: fewer than six.
      For more information authors may consult: www.care-statement.org.

17. Letters to the Editor

    • Abstract and unstructured body.

    • Number of references: fewer than five.

18. Fees
    Accepted articles are subject to a publication fee (to cover peer review, editing, and related costs). The current fee is specified each year on the journal website.

Peer Review Process

1. Acceptance of manuscripts is conditional upon thorough compliance with all general and technical instructions of the journal.

2. Manuscripts are screened in order of date of submission. After initial structural and content evaluation by the Editor-in-Chief and preliminary approval by the Editorial Board, manuscripts are sent for peer review by at least three experts in the relevant field.

3. Review is conducted as peer review (double-blind).

4. Based on reviewers’ comments, the corresponding author is asked to revise the manuscript. The revised version is then sent to one of the original reviewers as the final reviewer. If necessary, the manuscript may be returned to the authors for further revision.

5. After revisions in line with the final reviewer’s comments, the manuscript is re-evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief and placed on the agenda of the Editorial Board for final decision.

6. Statistical analyses in the manuscripts are reviewed by a biostatistics expert.

Manuscript Preparation

1. Title Page (Cover Letter / Title Page Content)

The title page should include:

1. Title of the Article

   • Concise (maximum 15 words).

   • Accurately reflects the main topic and direction of the study.

   • In qualitative studies, the title should reflect the phenomenon under study and be grounded in participants’ experiences.

   • Typed in bold.

2. Running Title
   A short running title (maximum 5 words) to be used as a header on each page.

3. Authors’ Names
   Full names of all authors should appear below the title.

4. Corresponding Author
   The corresponding author must be identified with an asterisk (*). At the bottom of the first page, indicate:

   (Corresponding Author)

5. Authors’ Affiliations
   Complete information about each author must be provided, including academic rank, institutional affiliation (university, faculty, or research institute), and official email address (preferably institutional). This information should be presented on the title page in both Persian and English.

6. Name Formatting in English
   In the extended English abstract and author information, the Latin spelling of names must follow the format:

   • Surname, followed by the first letter of the given name, then academic degree (e.g., BSc, MSc, MD, PhD).

7. Contact Details of Corresponding Author
   Postal address, postal code, telephone number, fax number, and email of the corresponding author must be provided in a footnote on the first page.

2. Persian Abstract

The Persian abstract should be structured, written on a separate page, and 250–300 words in length. It should not include references or unexplained abbreviations and must comprehensively represent the content of the article. The structure is:

• Introduction: Two to three sentences that justify the need for the study based on theory, model (if applicable), or a brief literature summary.

• Objective: A clear, measurable, and achievable statement that is consistent across all sections of the article.

• Methods: General information about study design, population and sample, data collection methods and instruments, period and type of intervention (if applicable).

• Results: Key findings aligned with study objectives, including statistical tests used in quantitative studies.

• Conclusion: A concise synthesis of the main findings with emphasis on implications for nursing practice, management, or policy (not a repetition of the results).

• Keywords: Three to five key terms based on MeSH (Medical Subject Headings).

3. Main Text

The main text of original research articles typically includes: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Final Conclusion, and References.

3.1 Introduction

The introduction should be concise, clear, and logically structured. Regardless of quantitative or qualitative design, it should:

1. Present a broad overview of the topic and research context.

2. Narrow down to the specific aspect or dimension of the problem being addressed.

3. Review relevant findings from previous national and international studies.

4. Analyze existing knowledge, highlight gaps or inconsistencies, and justify the need for the present study.

5. Clearly state the main objectives, research questions, or hypotheses.

3.2 Methods

The Methods section must provide sufficient detail to allow replication and demonstrate the rigor of the study. Given the differences between quantitative and qualitative methodologies, guidance is specified separately:

A. Quantitative Studies

The Methods section for quantitative research should include:

1. Study Design and Setting
   – Type of study and its suitability to the objective, location, and time period.
   – Study population, inclusion and exclusion criteria, sampling method, and sample size calculation.

2. Intervention or Procedures
   – Description of intervention (if applicable) or data collection procedures.
   – Measurement tools, their validity and reliability, scoring methods for quantitative and qualitative variables.
   – Ethical considerations.

3. Data Management and Analysis
   – Statistical software used, statistical tests, and significance level.
   – Model specifications (if applicable, e.g. regression, SEM).

B. Qualitative Studies

The Methods section for qualitative research should include:

4. Design and Setting
   – Qualitative approach (e.g. phenomenology, grounded theory, content analysis) and its suitability to the research question.
   – Study setting, natural context, and time frame.
   – Access to participants and their characteristics.

5. Data Collection and Rigor
   – Researcher’s entry into the field, strategies for data generation/collection (interviews, observations, documents, etc.).
   – Criteria and process for determining data saturation.
   – Strategies to ensure trustworthiness: credibility, confirmability, transferability, and dependability.
   – Ethical considerations.

6. Data Management and Analysis
   – Data management procedures, software used (if any), and analytic steps.
   – Clear description of how themes, categories, or core concepts were developed.

3.3 Results

The Results section should present the findings in a clear, logical, and non-repetitive fashion.

For Quantitative Studies:

1. Describe the distribution and characteristics of demographic and potential confounding variables and, where relevant, demonstrate comparability between groups.

2. Present main findings in line with the study objectives.

3. Report descriptive and inferential statistics (e.g., n, %, mean, SD, test statistics, p-values) without interpretation.

4. Do not repeat all numerical data from tables in the text; instead, summarize key trends.

5. In original and review articles, the number of tables should not exceed 5 and the number of figures should not exceed 3.

6. Table titles appear above the tables; figure and graph titles appear below the images.

7. Image quality must be at least 300 dpi.

8. When using figures or tables derived from other sources, appropriate citations should be added as footnotes.

For Qualitative Studies:

1. Provide a brief overview of findings based on the chosen analytic approach.

2. Present main categories, themes, or concepts along with subcategories, illustrated by direct quotations from participants.

3. Explain how the findings answer the research questions or elucidate the studied phenomenon, showing clear and meaningful relationships among categories, themes, or core concepts.

3.4 Discussion

The Discussion should:

1. Summarize and interpret the main findings in relation to the research questions or objectives (without repeating numerical details).

2. Compare and contrast current findings with previous studies conducted in Iran and internationally, citing references, and provide critical analysis of reasons for similarities or differences.

3. Address unexpected findings and offer plausible explanations.

4. Where applicable, interpret findings in light of theoretical or conceptual frameworks used.

5. Avoid extrapolation beyond what is supported by the study data.

3.5 Final Conclusion

The conclusion must:

1. Provide a concise synthesis of the main findings in relation to the overall objective, question, or hypothesis, without going beyond the data.

2. Indicate practical implications for nursing practice, education, management, or policy, as well as limitations and generalizability of the study.

3. Propose directions for future research and potential applications of the findings.

3.6 Acknowledgements

Acknowledge funding agencies, institutions, and individuals who contributed to the study or manuscript preparation but are not listed as authors. For funded projects, include the approval number and date of the research proposal, where applicable.

3.7 Conflict of Interest

Authors must declare any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that may have influenced the conduct or reporting of the research. Sources of financial or material support must be clearly specified.

References

References must be prepared according to the Vancouver style, preferably using EndNote software.

• Citations in the text should appear as superscript or in parentheses using Arabic numerals in the order in which they appear in the text.

• At the end of the manuscript, references should be listed in numerical order as they appeared in the text.

• All Persian references must be transliterated into English. The English title used in the journal’s own English abstract should be adopted when possible.

• Particular attention must be given to punctuation and formatting.

• The usual number of references is 30–40 for original and review articles.

Examples:

Journal Article – English
Salanova M, Lorente L, Chambel MJ, Martínez IM. Linking transformational leadership to nurses’ extra-role performance: the mediating role of self-efficacy and work engagement. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2011;67(10):2256-66.

Journal Article – Persian
Rezaei N, Tahbaz F, Kimiyagar M, Alavimajd H. Assessment impact teaching nutrient on knowledge, attitude, practice on patient suffering diabetes in Aligodarz. Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. 2006;8(2):52-9. [Persian].

Articles with More than Six Authors
Rose ME, Huerbin MB, Melick J, Marion DW, Palmer AM, Schiding JK, et al. Regulation of interstitial excitatory amino acid concentrations after cortical contusion injury. Brain Research. 2002;935(1-2):40-6.

Book – Persian and English
Faizey T. Organization and management principles. Tehran: Payam-e-Noor University Publisher; 2004. [Persian].
Blais KK, Hayes JS, Kozier B, Erb G. Professional Nursing Practice: Concepts and Perspectives. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall; 2006.

Translated Book
Patricia M, Christo N. Participation Age (M. Eslamie, trans). 2nd ed. Tehran: Cultural Researches Office; 2000.
Luria AR. The Mind of a Mnemonist (L. Solotaroff, trans). New York: Avon Books; 1969.

Book Chapter
Rezaeian M. Epidemiology of suicide: Mental health. In: Hatami H, Razavi M, Eftekhar H, Majlesi F, editors. Comprehensive of Public Health. 2nd ed. Vol 3. Tehran: Arjomand Publisher; 2006. [Persian].
Philips SJ, Whisnant JP. Hypertension and stroke. In: Laragh JH, Brenner BM, editors. Hypertension: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. 2nd ed. New York: Raven Press; 2005.

Thesis
Astorino TA. A survey of professional values in graduating student nurses of traditional and accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs [PhD thesis]. Pennsylvania: Indiana University of Pennsylvania; 2006.
Afsaryan SZ. Relationship between emotional intelligence and transformational leadership style in administrators [MSc thesis]. Mashhad: Mashhad University; 1990. [Persian].

Electronic Sources
Alfred D, Martin P, Yarbrough S, Lin YH, Wang L. A comparison of professional values of Taiwanese and American nursing students [Internet]. [cited August 2011]. Available from: www.stti.iupui.edu/pp07/convention11/Alfred_Danita.pdf.
Sharefzade S. Creativity and innovation in nursing and midwifery: a review of the field [Internet]. [cited April 2009]. Available from: http://www.rasekhon.net/Article/show-26315.aspx. [Persian].

Organization as Author
Institute of Medicine (US). Looking at the Future of the Medicaid Program. Washington: The Institute; 2007.
Occupational Health and Safety for Nurses [Internet]. 2006 [cited 2006]. Available from: http://www.icn.ch/images/stories/documents/publications/position_statements/C08_Occupational_Health_Safety.pdf.

Conference Proceedings
Charmi L, Kalkhali T. Triage in medical service (pre-hospital and hospital): what do nurses know? In: Proceedings of the Congress of the Promotion of Crisis Management in Disasters; 2006 Aug 29-30; Zanjan, Iran. [Persian].

Extended English Abstract – Format and Requirements

Upon acceptance of the manuscript, the corresponding author must submit an Extended English Abstract with the following structure and approximate word limits (total 800–1000 words):

1. Title of the Article

2. Authors’ Names

3. Authors’ Affiliations

4. Objectives (200–250 words)

5. Materials and Methods (approximately 200 words)

6. Results (approximately 200 words)

7. Discussion (250–350 words)

8. Ethical Considerations

9. Funding

10. Authors’ Contributions

11. Conflicts of Interest

12. Acknowledgements

• Only one table or figure may be included in the extended abstract (this is not counted in the word limit).

• It is recommended to cite 5–15 references in the extended abstract.

• Reference numbers in the extended abstract must correspond exactly to those used in the main Persian article (i.e., no EndNote auto-renumbering). The extended abstract need not cite all references from the main article but must preserve the same numbering for those it does cite.

Final Note to Authors

Publication in the Quarterly Journal of Nursing Management is possible only after careful study and strict adherence to these author guidelines. Authors are kindly requested to:

• Register on the journal website,

• Obtain a username and password, and

• Submit their manuscripts online via www.ijnv.ir, accompanied by the required documents (ethics approval, authors’ commitment form, and, upon acceptance, the extended English abstract).