Ethical Clearance

Genius Journal of Nursing (GJN) requires that all research involving human participants be conducted in accordance with internationally recognized ethical principles, including the Declaration of Helsinki and the ethical guidelines issued by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS).

All manuscripts reporting research involving human participants must include a clear Statement of Ethics Approval specifying:

The name of the ethics committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB) that approved the study
The approval number and date of approval (where applicable)
Confirmation that informed consent was obtained from all participants

If ethical approval was not required for a specific study design, authors must provide a clear and justified explanation. Editors evaluate ethical considerations beyond the presence of formal approval. Ethical assessment may include consideration of:

Any deviation from accepted clinical practice
Additional burdens imposed on research participants
Potential risks posed to participants
Direct benefits to participants
Broader societal and scientific benefits of the research

Where ethical concerns arise, Editors may request:

Further explanation of the ethical justification of the study
Contact details of the approving ethics committee or IRB
Additional documentation supporting ethical compliance

Editors may consult internal editorial colleagues or independent ethical advisors when necessary. In complex situations, guidance may be sought in accordance with the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

If a study is considered ethically unsound, the Editor may request clarification, recommend institutional investigation, or take appropriate editorial action. Ethical concerns may be addressed independently of the scientific merit of the manuscript.

In exceptional circumstances, contextual differences in local research governance may be considered. However, publication decisions will prioritize participant safety, ethical integrity, and the broader societal value of the research.

Animal Participants

Manuscripts reporting research involving animals must adhere to internationally recognized standards of animal welfare and comply with relevant institutional, national, and international regulations, including ethical guidelines developed by CIOMS and other recognized frameworks for humane animal research.

Before acceptance, authors must:

Confirm compliance with legal and ethical requirements for the humane treatment of animals
Provide details of ethics committee or institutional approval (where applicable)
Specify applicable animal welfare guidelines followed in the Materials and Methods section

Manuscripts must clearly justify:

The necessity of using animals in the research
The selection of the specific species used
Measures taken to minimize pain and suffering
Animal housing, feeding, and welfare conditions
Humane endpoints and methods of euthanasia (if applicable)

Studies involving animals should also address the principles of the 3Rs:

Replacement – using alternatives to animal models where possible
Reduction – minimizing the number of animals used
Refinement – improving procedures to reduce suffering

Editors reserve the right to reject manuscripts on ethical or animal welfare grounds, particularly when unnecessary pain, distress, or harm to animals is evident or when ethical justification is insufficient.

Editorial Responsibility in Ethical Concerns

When ethical concerns arise, Genius Journal of Nursing (GJN) follows internationally recognized ethical standards to ensure fair evaluation and the protection of research participants and animal welfare. Editorial actions may include requests for clarification, consultation with ethical experts, notification of relevant institutions, publication of corrections, or rejection of the manuscript when appropriate.