IN FOCUS

Submission Instructions

Please follow these steps when submitting your manuscript:

  1. A request to submit will be sent to you through the Editorial Manager system. This request will include all due dates and your user name and password for the system. Save your user name and password in a safe place. You will need them to log in to the system. All your communication from the journal will come by email via this system, and all information about your paper will be submitted online.
  2. Respond to the invitation as soon as possible. Once you accept the invitation, it will move to your "My accepted invitations” folder.
  3. When you are ready to submit, go into the “My accepted invitations” folder and click on "Submit Invited Manuscript." If you do not follow this link, your paper cannot be correctly classified as an In Focus manuscript.
  4. Follow the steps outlined in the Editorial Manager system. It is best to have your manuscript, cover letter, and any figures and/or tables ready for upload on your computer desktop.

Information for Authors

You should download a copy of the Guidelines for Authors, which is the primary guide for preparing manuscripts for the In Focus section of JOGNN. Guidelines are available at Please follow them closely! A few points to highlight:

  • References. Limit references to those that are absolutely necessary. The references should be recent. Go to the original sources rather than textbooks or secondary sources.

You and ONLY you will check the accuracy of your references. Be sure to get everything (authors, date, and the journal title) exactly correct. Use the on-line PubMed Journals Database ( to check on the correct names. For example, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Obstetrics and Gynecology are 2 different journals!

Be sure that all references in the reference list are cited in text and vice versa.

  • Permission. If you reuse a figure or table previously published or you create a new table or figure in which 50% or more of the material was previously published, you must obtain permission to reuse from the original publisher (not the author) and submit this permission with the article. Publishers generally require that specific acknowledgement language be published with the reused material; be sure to include this language.
  • The length of your text should not exceed 16 double-spaced pages. You do not need to include tables or figures unless they add additional content.
  • APA format. In order to avoid numerous corrections at revision stage, be sure that you paper adheres to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition. This is particularly important for text citations and reference list.

For help with APA, tutorial web sites are available for your use: APA style tutorial and the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University

  • Copyright. This form, available at must be mailed in hard copy to Managing Editor, Angela Hartley, at 308 New York Avenue, Salisbury, MD21801.

The peer review process takes up to 6 weeks. The decision about your paper, the reviewers’ comments, and the editor’s requested revisions will come to you as e-mail correspondence via Editorial Manager.

Manuscripts are subject to the Associate Editor’s decision, and there are 3 possible outcomes: acceptance, acceptance with required revisions, or rejection. Rejection is rare and can be avoided by working closely with the Guest Editor to be sure your paper will meet expectations.

Virtually every manuscript, by even the most experienced writer, will require some revisions. Respond promptly and carefully to all directions for revisions, and consult the Associate Editor and/or Guest Editor for guidance if there are conflicting recommendations from reviewers.

A due date for your revised paper will be included in the email with the results of the review process. The system generates this date automatically. If the date is a problem, please contact Angela Hartley at