Publication Ethics
Caring & Sharing Nursing Journal (CSNJ) is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and upholding high ethical standards in publishing. This policy applies to authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher for all submissions and published content.
1) Ethical Principles
CSNJ promotes:
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originality, honesty, and transparency in reporting research
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fair and unbiased editorial decision-making
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confidentiality in peer review
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responsible authorship and proper attribution
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prompt correction of the scholarly record when needed
2) Duties of Authors
2.1 Originality and Prior Publication
Authors must ensure that submissions are original and not under consideration elsewhere. Any overlapping content (including preprints, conference papers, theses, or prior versions) must be disclosed to the editor at submission.
2.2 Authorship and Contribution
Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to the work. All authors must:
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approve the final manuscript and submission
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agree to be accountable for their contributions
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disclose any changes to authorship (add/remove/reorder) only with written agreement from all authors and editorial approval
2.3 Accuracy and Data Integrity
Authors must present results truthfully and avoid fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. Authors should retain data and materials to enable verification when requested.
2.4 Ethical Approval and Informed Consent (Human Studies)
Research involving human participants must include:
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ethics approval information (committee name, approval number/date) where applicable
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informed consent procedures
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protection of participant privacy and confidentiality
For clinical images/case details, identifiable information must be removed and consent obtained when required.
2.5 Conflicts of Interest and Funding
Authors must declare all financial and non-financial conflicts of interest and disclose funding sources and the role of funders (or state “no funding”).
2.6 Use of AI Tools
If generative AI or automated tools are used (e.g., for language editing, summarization, or analysis support), authors must disclose how the tools were used. AI tools cannot be listed as an author, and authors remain fully responsible for the content’s accuracy, originality, and ethical compliance.
3) Duties of Editors
3.1 Fair Editorial Decisions
Editors evaluate manuscripts based on academic merit, relevance to scope, methodological quality, and ethical compliance—without discrimination or bias.
3.2 Confidentiality
Editors must protect the confidentiality of manuscripts, reviewer identities (in double-blind review), and editorial communications.
3.3 Conflicts of Interest
Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest (e.g., same institution, recent collaboration, personal relationship, financial interest). Another editor will be assigned.
3.4 Integrity of the Scholarly Record
Editors will take reasonable steps to identify and address suspected misconduct, and to issue corrections or retractions when needed.
4) Duties of Reviewers
Reviewers are expected to:
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provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback
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treat manuscripts as confidential documents
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declare conflicts of interest and decline review when conflicts exist
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avoid using manuscript content for personal advantage or research prior to publication
5) Peer Review Integrity
CSNJ applies double-blind peer review and aims to assign at least two independent reviewers per manuscript. The journal does not tolerate:
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fake reviewer identities
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coerced citations
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manipulation of peer review processes
6) Plagiarism, Redundant Publication, and Citation Ethics
CSNJ screens submissions for similarity and investigates indications of:
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plagiarism (unattributed copying of text/ideas)
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self-plagiarism / undisclosed text recycling
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duplicate or redundant publication
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citation manipulation or unethical citation practices
Confirmed serious violations may result in rejection and further editorial actions consistent with this policy.
7) Handling Allegations of Misconduct
When misconduct is suspected (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, image manipulation, authorship disputes), CSNJ will:
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conduct an initial assessment of evidence
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contact the corresponding author for clarification (when appropriate)
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consult editors/reviewers or relevant experts if needed
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make a decision and document the process
Possible outcomes include correction requests, rejection, reporting to institutions (in severe cases), or post-publication actions.
8) Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
To maintain the integrity of the scholarly record, CSNJ may publish:
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Corrections (Errata/Corrigenda) for honest errors that do not invalidate conclusions
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Retractions for major errors or misconduct that invalidate findings or ethical compliance
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Expressions of Concern when an investigation is ongoing but serious concerns exist
Retraction/correction notices will be linked to the original article and clearly state the reason and basis of the action.
9) Complaints and Appeals
9.1 Appeals
Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a reasoned explanation with supporting evidence. Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and/or an independent editor not involved in the original decision.
9.2 Complaints
Complaints about editorial handling, peer review, or publication ethics are handled confidentially and fairly. CSNJ will acknowledge complaints, investigate as appropriate, and communicate outcomes.
10) Copyright, Licensing, and Open Access
CSNJ is an open-access journal. Authors retain copyright and articles are published under CC BY 4.0, allowing sharing and adaptation with proper attribution, as stated in the journal’s copyright and licensing policies.
11) Ethical Advertising and Revenue (if applicable)
If the journal uses sponsorship/advertising, editorial decisions are not influenced by commercial interests. Any revenue model is disclosed transparently on the journal website.
