Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to Genius Journal of Nursing (GJN) undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the quality, validity, and scientific relevance of each publication. The journal employs a double-blind peer review system, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential to maintain objective and unbiased evaluation. The review process is conducted by independent experts in the relevant field and focuses on originality, scientific merit, methodological rigor, and alignment with the journal’s scope.

The average time from submission to the first editorial decision is approximately 6–8 weeks, while the complete review process, including revisions, generally takes 8–12 weeks, depending on reviewer availability, manuscript complexity, and the number of revision rounds required.

Submission to GJN does not guarantee acceptance. In cases of unexpected delays, authors will be informed accordingly and may choose to withdraw their manuscript if they wish.

Initial Screening (Pre-Review)

Upon submission to Genius Journal of Nursing (GJN), each manuscript undergoes an initial screening conducted by the Editor-in-Chief or Handling Editor. This stage typically takes 1–2 weeks and evaluates:

Alignment with the journal’s focus and scope
Compliance with submission guidelines
Originality and academic quality
Ethical compliance and research integrity

All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin or iThenticate. The journal applies a maximum similarity threshold of 20%.

Similarity within this range may be acceptable for certain sections, such as methodological descriptions, properly cited quotations, or content derived from preprints or academic theses. However, any indication of plagiarism, inappropriate citation practices, or excessive similarity may result in rejection or return to the authors for revision before peer review.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening proceed to the formal peer-review stage.

Assignment of Reviewers

After passing the initial screening, a Section Editor is assigned to manage the manuscript, typically within 1–3 days. The Section Editor then appoints at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise, usually within one week.

To maintain the double-blind review system, authors must remove all identifying information from the manuscript, including names, affiliations, acknowledgments, and self-identifying references.

Reviewers are selected based on:

Subject-matter expertise
Academic qualifications
Absence of conflicts of interest

Where possible, reviewers are affiliated with institutions different from those of the authors to maintain objectivity and impartiality.

Review Process

Once reviewers accept the invitation, they are given approximately 4–6 weeks to complete the evaluation.

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on:

Originality and novelty of the research
Scientific quality and methodological rigor
Clarity of presentation and organization
Relevance to nursing science and clinical practice
Contribution to existing knowledge

Reviewers provide constructive comments and recommend one of the following decisions:

Accept
Minor Revision
Major Revision
Reject

If revisions are required, the manuscript is returned to the authors for improvement. Revised manuscripts may undergo additional review rounds, particularly in cases of major revisions. Each revision cycle generally takes 2–4 weeks.

Editorial Decision

After the peer review process is completed, the Editor-in-Chief and/or Handling Editor evaluates the reviewers’ comments and recommendations to reach a final decision. This stage typically requires approximately one week.

If substantial discrepancies occur between reviewer evaluations, the Editor may invite an additional reviewer to provide an independent assessment.

Possible editorial decisions include:

Accept
Minor Revision
Major Revision
Reject

The decision is communicated to the authors through the journal’s online submission system along with anonymized reviewer comments.

Revision Process

If revisions are required, authors are given a specified timeframe:

Minor Revision: 2 weeks
Major Revision: 4 weeks

Authors must submit:

A revised manuscript with clearly indicated changes
A response-to-reviewers letter addressing each reviewer comment point-by-point

For major revisions, the revised manuscript is typically returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation. For minor revisions, the Editor-in-Chief or Handling Editor may make the final decision without additional external review.

Additional revision rounds may be conducted until the manuscript meets the journal’s standards.

Publication Process

After a manuscript is formally accepted by the Editor-in-Chief, it proceeds to the production stage. The manuscript undergoes copyediting and layout formatting by the editorial team, usually within 1–2 weeks, to ensure clarity, consistency, and adherence to journal standards.

Authors will then review the final proof and confirm the accuracy of the content. At this stage, authors must also complete the required copyright and publication agreement forms.

Following final approval, the article is prepared for online publication and assigned to the appropriate journal issue. The publication process generally takes approximately 1 week after final proof approval.

Through this structured and transparent editorial workflow, Genius Journal of Nursing (GJN) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, ethical publishing, and scholarly excellence, contributing to the advancement of nursing science and clinical practice.