Top 10 Nursing Journals

Article Contents

1. Introduction
2. An overview of important Journal Metrics
3. A list of the top ranked journals for this therapeutic area
4. Ways to stay up to date with the latest research developments

Introduction

Keeping across current research is crucial for all nursing professionals. For those directly involved in patient care, adopting evidence-based practices is fundamental to enhancing patient outcomes. Nurses engaged in healthcare's broader aspects, such as policy-making, leadership, and management, benefit from understanding the latest research to guide their decisions. However, the demanding nature of nursing jobs often leaves little time for even basic necessities, let alone for sifting through the vast amount of research published monthly.

Recognising this challenge, we have taken the initiative to compile a list of the top 10 nursing journals of 2024 for you. Our selection exclusively features journals focused on nursing, excluding those that cater primarily to other health professions with nurses as a secondary audience.

Here you will find the top 10 Nursing journals ranked by the 2-year Journal Impact Factor (2-JIF) – a measure of the frequency with which the articles within the journal are cited in a particular 2-year period.

We have also included these other factors for each journal in our assessment to round off the picture.

Journal Metrics

Impact factor

The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) is based on Web of Science data and only includes documents such as articles and reviews. The JIF helps to understand the importance of how often articles are cited by addressing the bias that arises from comparing citation numbers. This bias tends to advantage bigger journals over smaller ones, those published more often over those with fewer issues, and older journals over newer ones. This is because larger or older journals usually have more articles to be cited. By considering the impact factor, we can more fairly compare journals by taking into account these differences in size, publication frequency, and age. A JIF of 3 or more is considered good and 1 is average.

CiteScore

CiteScore is based on Scopus data for all indexed documents, including articles, letters and editorials, as well as articles and reviews. The CiteScore for a particular year is calculated by dividing the number of citations to all indexed documents within the journal from that year and the three preceding years by the total number of documents published in the journal within that same period.

• Impact factor and CiteScore have the most meaning when used to compare journals within the same therapeutic area. Many academics value a journal’s Impact Factor over its CiteScore; therefore, they will use the impact factor to rank other journals in the same field.

SCImago Journal Rank (SJR)

The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) indicator evaluates the prestige of academic journals by considering not only the number of citations a journal receives but also the prestige of the journals that issue these citations. An SJR >1.0 is above average. This measurement can be helpful to rank journals within the same field and category.

Source Normalised Impact per Paper (SNIP)

Source Normalised Impact per Paper (SNIP) weights citations based on the total number of citations in a subject field to provide a contextual, subject-specific metric. A SNIP over 1.0 means a journal has more citations than average.

Other Journal considerations

In addition to SJR ranking and journal impact factor, a good quality journal generally has the following characteristics:

1. It is indexed on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science or another reputable journal index.
2. It has an up-to-date website, a clear scope, extensive information for authors and readers, and a publicly visible editorial board consisting of appropriately qualified board members affiliated with accredited universities and research institutions.
3. Each article is assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI).

We have focused on publications that specialise in pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research, together with a few key health policy journals.

Top 10 Nursing Journals

Selecting the right journal for your research is a critical step that can make or break the impact of your work. This is where a medcomms agency like Rx Communications can become an essential ally. With a deep understanding of the scientific publishing world and high levels of therapeutic area expertise, a medcomms agency worth its salt should be able to provide support at any stage of the publishing process. This includes assisting in finding journals that match your research area and larger aims, and shaping your manuscript so it reflects the ethos and audience of your chosen journal, as well as guiding you through the entire submission process including managing revisions, and planning for post-publication promotion and dealing with rejection.

Rx can increase your chances of not just getting published, but also ensuring your research makes the waves it deserves.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

The International Journal of Nursing Studies (IJNS) publishes high-quality research, reviews, and discussions on nursing, midwifery, and health care, focusing on evidence-based practice and policy.

• Impact Factor: 8.1
• CiteScore: 11.2
• SJR: 1.774
• SNIP: 2.727
• H-Index: 132

Nursing Ethics

Nursing Ethics offers a practical approach to ethical and legal issues in nursing, emphasising readability and user-friendly analysis.

• Impact Factor: 4.2
• CiteScore: 7.1
• SJR: 1.261
• SNIP: 1.859
• H-Index: 69

Journal of Nursing Management

The Journal of Nursing Management advances nursing management and leadership globally through critical analysis and evidence-based insights.

• Impact Factor: 5.5
• CiteScore: 6.8
• SJR: 1.341
• SNIP: 1.921
• H-Index: 88

International Journal of Mental Health Nursing

The International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, the official journal of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc., focuses on mental health nursing practice and research.

• Impact Factor: 5.6
• CiteScore: 6.5
• SJR: 1.230
• SNIP: 1.500
• H-Index: 62

International Nursing Review

The International Nursing Review is a global resource for nurses, emphasising research and articles that embody the ICN's values.

• Impact Factor: 4.1
• CiteScore: 6.4
• SJR: 1.011
• SNIP: 1.626
• H-Index: 60

Journal of Clinical Nursing

The Journal of Clinical Nursing (JCN) is an international, peer-reviewed journal that enhances nursing practice by disseminating research and knowledge across all nursing areas.

• Impact Factor: 4.2
• CiteScore: 6.0
• SJR: 0.938
• SNIP: 1.496
• H-Index: 117

Seminars in Oncology Nursing

Published six times a year, this journal provides an in-depth focus on a specific cancer topic per issue, including expert review articles and research pertinent to oncology nursing.

• Impact Factor: 2.2
• CiteScore: 5.9
• SJR: 0.898
• SNIP: 1.235
• H-Index: 53

International Journal of Nursing Sciences

The International Journal of Nursing Sciences (IJNSS), a quarterly peer-reviewed publication of the Chinese Nursing Association, advances nursing and healthcare.

• Impact Factor: 3.8
• CiteScore: 5.7
• SJR: 0.815
• SNIP: 1.572
• H-Index: 30

Journal of Nursing Scholarship

The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, accessible in 103 countries, focuses on global health enhancement and is the official publication of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

• Impact Factor: 3.4
• CiteScore: 5.7
• SJR: 0.982
• SNIP: 1.496
• H-Index: 90

Nursing in Critical Care

Nursing in Critical Care covers critical care nursing practice, research, education, and management aspects.

• Impact Factor: 3.0
• CiteScore: 5.6
• SJR: 0.761
• SNIP: 1.323
• H-Index: 49

Publish or Perish - as true now as it ever was

In the high-stakes world of pharma and biotech, "Publish or Perish" isn't just a catchy phrase—it's the stark reality. For pharma companies and researchers, it's not enough to develop breakthroughs; the real challenge lies in getting those findings recognised in top journals. In this game, it's not just about playing your cards right; it's about having a seasoned player on your team. With Rx Communications in your corner, you’ll be giving yourself the best chance to make an impact with your research. Explore our Publications Support Services here.

How to Stay Up-to-Date with Nursing Research Developments

For pharma professionals and researchers working in the field of Nursing, it is vital to stay abreast of the latest research advancements. To stay on top you might:

• Consider subscribing to our newsletter and receive updates to our top journal lists as well as other relevant industry and therapeutic developments as they happen.
• Register for an account with your selected journal to get direct access to new research as it's published.
• Customise an RSS feed for your selected journals to also further streamline the process, delivering the latest papers and articles directly to your digital doorstep.
• Setting up a Google alert with Alzheimer's research keywords to capture relevant news and studies from across the web.
• Lastly, don't underestimate the power of social media; by following the publishers and journals in the field, you'll tap into a community of shared knowledge and discourse.

Article originally written by Sarah Cahill and published in 2021, updated by Beth Howe and the Rx Team for 2024!