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Taylor & Francis

Prepare your manuscript for Contemporary Nurse.

Review the checklist, choose your article type, and turn your draft into a cleaner submission package.

Checked 2026-08-01
Check readiness freePrepare this manuscript

Article types

Review
Editorial
Protocol
Commentary
Systematic Review
Letter
Research Article
Perspective
Lectio
Clinical Trial

Readiness requirements

Review the key details below, or download the complete checklist with every stored source-backed requirement.

Abstract length

  • Provide an author-written abstract of no more than 300 words.
  • Use a structured abstract.
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  • A typical Discussion paper for this journal should be no more than 3000 words; this limit excludes Abstract (300 words), Keywords, Impact Statement, References, Figures, Tables.
  • A typical submission for our ‘Future Leaders’ section should be no more than 3000 words; this limit excludes Abstract (300 words), Keywords, Impact Statement, References, Figures, Tables.
  • Randomised controlled trials must be registered, with registration details included in the abstract and manuscript.
  • Editorials and Commentaries do not include a structured Abstract.
  • There are no strict formatting requirements, but all manuscripts must contain the essential elements needed to evaluate a manuscript: abstract, author affiliation, figures, tables, funder information, references.
  • A structured abstract of no more than 300 words.
  • Please do not embed it in the manuscript file but save it as a separate file, labelled GraphicalAbstract1.Taylor & Francis Editing Services provides a graphical abstract creation service for a fee.

Keywords

  • Impact statement: Authors must provide a separate Impact statement after their keywords.
  • Keywords: All key words must be selected from MeSH on Demand.
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  • The Methods section should note the Design (a discursive critique or discussion) and Data Sources (search dates, databases, keywords, citation management, any inclusion or exclusion criteria applied and approach to data extraction and synthesis).

Reference style

  • Articlo formats your supplied references to the journal's stored style and checks that citations match the reference list; source validity is not verified.
  • All bibliographic entries must contain a corresponding in-text citation.
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  • Where applicable, this should include the hyperlink, DOI or other persistent identifier associated with the data set(s).
  • Readers should be able to interpret the table without reference to the text.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: Confirmation the authors take full responsibility for the integrity of the whole content, including accuracy of references.

Figure and table rules

  • Keep every figure and table numbered, captioned, and cited in the manuscript. Keep figures embedded; Articlo also extracts numbered source files for the package.
  • Figures should be high quality (1200 dpi for line art, 600 dpi for grayscale and 300 dpi for colour, at the correct size).
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  • Figures should be of sufficient resolution to enable refereeing.
  • Each Figure or Table should be uploaded as a separate file.
  • Tables should present new information rather than duplicating what is in the text.
  • Figures should be supplied in one of our preferred file formats: PS, JPEG, TIFF, or Microsoft Word (DOC or DOCX) files are acceptable for figures that have been drawn in Word.

Funding statement

  • Add or confirm the author-written Funding statement; Articlo flags it if author input is still needed.
  • You should declare only the acquired funds and grants that are directly relevant to the work reported in your article; for example, This work was supported by the [Funding Agency #1] under Grant [number xxxx]; [Funding Agency #2] under Grant [number xxxx]; and [Funding Agency #3] under Grant [number xxxx].

Competing interests

  • Add or confirm the author-written Conflict of interest statement; Articlo flags it if author input is still needed.
  • Review: It should contain statements that indicate that the submitting authors have adhered to ethical guidelines for research involving humans, obtained ethical approval from a relevant Institutional Review Board for research involving Human participants, complied with authorship criteria, that all authors have agreed to the submission, and confirms that there are no conflicts of interest or duplicate submissions.

Data availability statement

  • Review / Systematic Review: The title of the paper must indicate what the type of review is e.g. systematic review, systematic review with meta-analysis, integrative review, mixed-methods review, qualitative review, scoping review, policy review, etc. Reviews must be registered with PROSPERO, or the Open Science Framework.

Ethics statement

  • Review: Primary research studies involving Human participants must adhere to relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, local regulations and standards for gaining scrutiny and approval, in addition to maintaining security, integrity and privacy of participant information.

Blinded manuscript

  • The PDF should be uploaded as the “Manuscript - with author details”/”Manuscript - anonymous” file.

Cover letter

  • Using third-party material in your paper You must obtain the necessary permission to reuse third-party material in your article.
  • Review: The use of short extracts of text and some other types of material is usually permitted, on a limited basis, for the purposes of criticism and review without securing formal permission.
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  • If you wish to include any material in your paper for which you do not hold copyright, and which is not covered by this informal agreement, you will need to obtain written permission from the copyright owner prior to submission.

Author contributions

  • Submitting authors should be prepared to submit CRediT roles for themselves and their co-authors (where applicable) as part of the submission process.

Supplementary files

  • Include every cited supplementary file and use matching labels in the manuscript.
  • Letter: Embed or attach the author-supplied supplementary material so Articlo can extract and label it for the package.
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  • Review / Letter: A copy of the approval letter noting the study number, title, approval date and committee details must be uploaded as Supplementary material – not for review, with manuscript submission.
  • Review / Letter: If a ‘waiver of consent’ has been provided this must be made explicit within the text of the manuscript and the letter noting this exemption from the relevant IRB that includes the study number, title, approval date and committee details must be uploaded as supplemental information not for review with manuscript submission.

Title page and author information

  • Please include all authors' full names, affiliations, postal addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses on the title page.
  • One author will need to be identified as the corresponding author, with their email address displayed in the article PDF and the online article.

Article structure and word limits

  • Research Article: A typical primary Research article for this journal should be no more than 5000 words.
  • It must be 280 characters or less.
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  • It should be a maximum width of 525 pixels.
  • Review: These instructions will ensure we have everything required so your paper can move through peer review, production and publication smoothly.
  • Guidelines checklists identify essential matters that should be considered and reported upon in your paper.
  • You are required to submit a checklist from the appropriate reporting guidelines with your paper as a guide for the Editor and reviewers of your paper.
  • Our guidelines should be read in conjunction with this broader guidance.
  • The title of the paper should include the study design and exclude the country of origin.
  • The title must reflect the type of paper and topic or population of interest.
  • The limitations of the existing evidence and the implications of it for clinical nursing practice should be addressed.
  • The manuscript should conclude by reiterating the key message, providing a summary of the analysis of the literature, and suggesting future directions.
  • Note that, regardless of the file format of the original submission, an editable version of the article must be supplied at the revision stage.
  • It must be outcome focused to highlight the value or the work.
  • Data Collection should explain relevant collection techniques, Ethical Considerations, and management processes.
  • The type of software used must be described along with actions to ensure trustworthiness, or validity and reliability of the data.
  • Strengths and Limitations of your work should be discussed as should future directions.
  • Concluding statements should reiterate your key contribution and discuss this in relation to its implications for clinical nursing practice.
  • Concluding statement should reflect on the importance of your argument for the discipline of nursing.
  • You will also need to upload your LaTeX source files, which should be uploaded as a single zip file alongside your submission and marked as “LaTeX Source Files”.
  • Your research funder or your institution may require you to publish your article open access.
  • Use our APC finder to view the APC for this journal.
  • Queries Should you have any queries, please visit our Author Services website or contact us here.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: Originality and accuracy of content has been confirmed by the authors.
  • Authors must provide full methodological details and adhere to relevant reporting guidelines where applicable.
  • Authors must retain the original and revised versions which must be shared upon request.
  • The PLSP guidelines for authors must be followed at all times.
  • Please do not list the country in the title.
  • Please use SI units (non-italicized).
  • Your findings need to be discussed in the context of existing evidence.
  • Image descriptions are typically used by systems such as pronouncing screen readers to make images accessible to people that cannot read or see the object due to a visual disability.

Reporting guidelines

  • Include or confirm the reporting guidelines required by the journal. Articlo checks this item and flags anything that still needs author input.

Preprints and prior publication

  • If you have shared an earlier version of your Author’s Original Manuscript on a preprint server, please be aware that anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Artificial intelligence disclosure

  • Add or confirm the author-written Artificial intelligence statement; Articlo flags it if author input is still needed.
  • Please include a statement disclosing whether and how generative AI has been used in the research and manuscript preparation process.
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  • Use of AI tools as part of ethical research studies is permitted.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: The name and version number of the AI tool used.
  • Systematic Review: Use of AI tools as part of ethically conducted literature reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and bibliometrics studies is permitted.
  • Use of AI tool assisted plain language summaries (PLS) of authors own work is permitted.
  • Please read our guidance on using AI tools in your research and manuscript preparation to understand scenarios where their use may be permissible, and the required information that must be disclosed.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: Confirmation the authors have checked terms of use for the specific AI tool used, and therefore confirm suitability for publication.

Article type and manuscript length

  • Editorial: Word limits A typical Editorial for this journal should be no more than 1500 words, has no abstract and a maximum of 6 references.
  • Commentary: A typical article Commentary relates to a recently published paper, should be no more than 1000 words, has no abstract, 6-10 references, and a maximum of 6 authors.
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  • Review: A typical Review for this journal should be no more than 5000 words; this limit excludes Abstract (300 words), Keywords, Impact Statement, References, Figures, Tables.
  • Within the main text, sub-headings should reflect the Design of the submission.
  • Discussion Papers are also welcome, as are submissions for our ‘Future Leaders’ section dedicated to showcasing student submissions. ‘Future Leaders’ papers should be submitted under the Discussion Papers article type.
  • Original research, reviews and discussion papers required a structured Abstract, Keywords, Impact Statement, Plain Language Summary, the Main Text of the manuscript, and on separate pages Funding Details, Disclosure/Conflict of Interest Statement, and References, in a single file.

Authorship and originality

  • All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organisations that could influence (bias) their work.

Manuscript structure

  • The methods section should clearly describe the process taken in searching, identifying and managing relevant literature to inform the discussion.
  • The discussion should then provide a critical analytical argument of the information gathered to support or refute your key message.
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  • The first paragraph of the Results should focus on sample description with subsequent paragraphs dedicated to each study aim.
  • In the Discussion the key contribution to new knowledge and implications of this finding, in relation to the study aim/s, should be showcased in the first paragraph.
  • The Background section should argue why the issue of interest is worthy of discussion and exploration given existing knowledge and, or historical perspectives.
  • The Findings should summarise key revelations for critique in the Discussion that must focus on the implications of the findings for clinical nursing practice.
  • Perspective: The manuscript introduction should provide an outline of the problem from a conceptual, theoretical or professional perspective and discuss the international relevance of the overarching premise that is situated in the context of clinical nursing practice.
  • Abstracts for discussion papers should include Background; Objectives/Aims; Methods that notes the Design (a discursive critique or discussion) and Data Sources (search dates, literature used); Findings and Conclusion.
  • Discussion papers should include an Introduction that stipulates what the problem/concept/ professional issue is and why it is relevant to the journal audience in the context of contemporary nursing practice.
  • Authors must retain full records of the methods undertaken, including full descriptions and records of the prompts used, which must be shared with the journal upon request.

Statistical reporting

  • Data Analysis must address screening, cleaning, storage, management of missing data, and approach to analysis demonstrating constructive alignment with study aims.
  • Statistical reporting should be consistent with SAMPL Guidelines.
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  • Manuscripts reporting reviews should include Introduction, Background, Aims/Objectives, Design, Methods including Search Strategy, Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria, Types of Studies, Types of Participants, Types of Interventions, Types of Outcomes, Data Extraction, Quality Assessment, Statistical Analyses/Data Synthesis, Results, Discussion and Conclusion.
  • Please use these headings: Background; Objectives/ Aims/ Hypotheses; Design; Methods (including settings with participants inclusion and exclusion criteria); Results (main outcomes(s)/findings) with enough detail to enable a knowledgeable reader with access to the original data to verify the reported results following SAMPL Guidelines; and Conclusions.
  • Manuscripts reporting original research should include the following headings; Introduction, Background, Aim/s that indicate primary and secondary outcomes, Hypotheses, Design, Methods including Setting and Sample with a description of the population of interest, an explanation of recruitment strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and sample size calculation.

Language and text style

  • Plain Language Summary: the plain language summary (PLS) should be included under its own heading, placed after the Impact Statement and before the main Manuscript text, and be a maximum of 250 words.
  • The PLS should be factual and written in person-centred language with short clear sentences that describe why the study was done, what you did, what the results mean and how the findings will influence the wider field.

Study reporting guidelines

  • Authors must provide full methodological details and adhere to relevant reporting guidelines where applicable (e.g. CONSORT-AI, STARD-AI, GAMER, TRIPOD-AI, etc).
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What your package checks

Abstract: 300 words
Paper: 3,000 words
Declarations: Funding, Conflict of interest, Artificial intelligence

Source transparency

This preparation guide uses published journal-specific author requirements. Journal instructions can change, so authors should complete a final review before submission.

Open official guideline source