Journal profile · Nursing
International Journal of Nursing Studies
ISSN 0020-7489 · eISSN 1873-491X · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Monthly
International Journal of Nursing Studies: CAS Zone 1 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 8.49; hybrid open access; APC about USD 5,840; median 176 days to acceptance (100 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly hard; 258 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
International Journal of Nursing Studies is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 1 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Nursing education and management, Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes and Human auditory perception and evaluation, together about 26.9% of its articles. Its main subfields are General Health Professions. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The International Journal of Nursing Studies (IJNS) provides a forum for original research and scholarship about health care delivery, organisation, management, workforce, policy and research methods relevant to nursing, midwifery and other health related professions. The IJNS aims to support evidence informed policy and practice by publishing research, systematic and other scholarly reviews and critical discussion.The journal particularly welcomes studies that aim to evaluate and understand complex health care interventions and health policies and which employ the most rigorous designs and methods appropriate for the research question of interest. The journal also seeks to advance the quality of research by publishing methodological papers introducing or elaborating on analytic techniques, measures, and research methods.The journal has been publishing original peer-reviewed articles of interest to the international health care community since 1963, making it one of the longest standing repositories of scholarship in this field. The IJNS offers authors the benefits of:A highly respected journal with a consistently strong impact and global reputation.Indexing in major databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index), Scopus, CINAHL, and the British Nursing Index (BNI).A truly international readership and expert peer reviewers drawn from a broad range of nursing and health services research disciplines.Efficient editorial processes, including rapid initial screening for suitability and editorial interest, timely peer review, and fast online publication following acceptance.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Nursing
Editor-in-chief Peter GriffithsPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 4%); most named United Kingdom 17, United States 13, Australia 8, South Korea 3, Mainland China 2 (57 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Nursing education and managementNursing13%
- Geriatric Care and Nursing HomesHealth Professions7.5%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering6.4%
- Educational Robotics and EngineeringComputer Science5.7%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance5.6%
- Palliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesMedicine5.4%
- Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnoutHealth Professions5.4%
- Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care UnitsHealth Professions4.5%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Nursing | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Nursing | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Nursing | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIESSCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINEPubMedCINAHLPublisher website
Other: British Nursing Index (BNI)
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 8.49LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 8.7Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 13.3LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 13.3Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.56LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 3.18LetPub ·
- h-index
- 91LetPub ·
- h-index
- 213OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 4,100OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 6.53OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 3.4%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 41.32%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 196LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 6,626 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 299 | 101 | 114 |
| 2025 | 258 | 107 | 1,463 |
| 2024 | 230 | 110 | 3,565 |
| 2023 | 160 | 79 | 3,774 |
| 2022 | 180 | 76 | 5,889 |
| 2021 | 216 | 74 | 10,655 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
176 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 126 days – 221 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 3 days (100 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 180 days
- Sample
- 100 articles with submission and acceptance dates (523 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 3–8 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly hardLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 63 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 179 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 4 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 5,840 / EUR 5,460 / GBP 4,680 / JPY 724,340 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 5,200 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 400 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 7,000 words
- Reference style
- Harvard
- Highlights
- Required
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted11, with length limits
- editorialGuidance on preparing your article:Before submitting your paper, please download and complete the Submission Checklist and Manuscript Template. The completed su…main text ≤ 1,000 words
- editorials1.1.3 Editorials — up to 1000 words, , No Abstract requiredLength not stated
- full paperGuidance on preparing your article:Before submitting your paper, please download and complete the Submission Checklist and Manuscript Template. The completed su…main text ≤ 7,000 words
- letterGuidance on preparing your article:Before submitting your paper, please download and complete the Submission Checklist and Manuscript Template. The completed su…Length not stated
- literature reviewGuidance on preparing your article:Before submitting your paper, please download and complete the Submission Checklist and Manuscript Template. The completed su…Length not stated
- original researchGuidance on preparing your article:Before submitting your paper, please download and complete the Submission Checklist and Manuscript Template. The completed su…Length not stated
- research paperGuidance on preparing your article:Before submitting your paper, please download and complete the Submission Checklist and Manuscript Template. The completed su…main text ≤ 7,000 words
- research papers1.1.1 Research Papers — 2,000–7,000 words, Abstract - Up to 400 wordsLength not stated
- reviewGuidance on preparing your article:Before submitting your paper, please download and complete the Submission Checklist and Manuscript Template. The completed su…main text ≤ 7,000 words
- reviews and discussion papers1.1.2 Reviews and Discussion Papers — 2,000–7,000 words, Abstract - Up to 400 wordsLength not stated
- systematic reviewGuidance on preparing your article:Before submitting your paper, please download and complete the Submission Checklist and Manuscript Template. The completed su…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Single corresponding author required. Model summary
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Follow Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy. Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Double anonymized peer review. Model summary
This journal follows a double anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed; does not count as prior publication. Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- ISSN
- 0020-7489
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-491X
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about International Journal of Nursing Studies
What CAS zone is International Journal of Nursing Studies in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, International Journal of Nursing Studies is in Zone 1 of Medicine, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Nursing; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of International Journal of Nursing Studies?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 8.49; CiteScore 13.3, h-index 213.
How long does peer review take at International Journal of Nursing Studies?
Based on the dates recorded on 100 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 176 days (interquartile range 126–221 days); authors report an average review time of 3–8 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly hard”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of International Journal of Nursing Studies?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 400 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 7,000 words; Reference style: Harvard; Highlights: Required; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of International Journal of Nursing Studies based?
Of the 57 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 4%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (17), United States (13) and Australia (8). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index International Journal of Nursing Studies?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, International Journal of Nursing Studies is indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, PubMed and CINAHL; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is International Journal of Nursing Studies open access, and what is the APC?
International Journal of Nursing Studies is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 5,840.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .