Nursing Spectrum Nurseweek
» Subscribe «

Nurse.com

Search Courses
Search For:

Search By:
User Login
Username or Email:
Password:
keep me logged in?
Login Help Create New Account
CE Tools
CE Resources

Nursing Spectrum Continuing Education
Guidelines for Authors
Updated March 30, 2007

Each issue of our magazines includes a peer-reviewed CE module that allows nurses to earn one contact hour. We are looking for modules that are timely, relevant, and compelling for practicing nurses. Prospective authors should be able to demonstrate their expertise in the subject matter through experience, education, or both. To understand the tone, style, and format of our CE modules, go to our websites, www.nursingspectrum.com or www.nurseweek.com (click on Education/CE and then Self-Study Modules), and review a few of them.

The Manuscript

To be considered for continuing nursing education, a manuscript must be authored or coauthored by an RN and must include the following items:

  1. A one-sentence goal statement for the module, separate from the narrative.

    For example:

    The goal of this program is to provide nurses with information about the incidence, etiology, identification, and treatment of abdominal trauma.

  2. Three objectives, using action verbs that require readers to demonstrate their understanding of the topic.

    For example:

    Identify three factors that …
    Discuss four nursing interventions ...
    Describe two ways patients …

  3. A Clinical Vignette(See “Tips for Writing a Clinical Vignette”.)

  4. Evidence-based information whenever possible. Identify the information as evidence-based so that the reader will know that it is. If the information is from an online source, include the link in the text.

  5. An introduction (lead) that packs a punch and captures the reader’s attention. If you use a case study as a lead, make it succinct and directly related to topic. Other considerations involving a case study lead:

    • Whenever possible, use a case study involving an actual patient, but do not use the patient’s real name. Use fictitious names to identify patients. (But not initials, i.e., “Mrs. S.”)

    • Inform the CE editor if your case study draws on a number of patient situations, i.e., if you use a “composite patient” to make your point.

  6. An original, researched, referenced manuscript of about 3,200 words, written in a conversational style. (The word count is for the main text only. Do not include the clinical vignette, any sidebars, objectives, references, or exam in the word count.) If you include a sidebar (of around 150 words), the main text should be shorter, about 2,900 words. The clinical vignette should be from 400 to 450 words.

    Manuscripts must be word-processed and double-spaced with margins of at least 1 inch. The text must provide current, advanced, testable information on clinical or professional topics relevant for practicing RNs.

  7. A complete reference list, including correct book or journal titles, dates, and page numbers, with footnoted citations in AMA style. Generally, references should not be older than three years. Try to limit references because of space constraints. Number the footnotes consecutively in the text. Once a citation has a number, it keeps it throughout the narrative, and it should correspond to the numeric order of the reference list. For examples of this style see “Reference Guidelines" .

  8. Twelve multiple-choice questions with four responses each with the correct answers indicated. (See “Tips for Writing Test Questions”.)

  9. A resume or curriculum vitae for each author.

  10. A signed author’s agreement.

  11. A signed vested interest self-disclosure form.

    Note: Authors must guard against plagiarism. The dictionary defines plagiarism this way: “To steal and pass off [the ideas or words of another] as one’s own: use [a created production] without crediting the source.”* To avoid plagiarizing, you must credit the journal articles, books, and websites you drew information from by citing them in your reference list. If you use someone else’s exact words, put quotation marks around them as well as listing their source in your reference list.

The Submission Process

  1. Before writing a word, contactl Nan Callender-Price, RN, MA, director/editor of continuing education, to discuss your idea ([800] 859-2091, Ext. 124, or [925] 283-7263 or ncallender-price@gannettHG.com). We are looking for manuscripts that are original, practical, useful, and informative for any RN, yet innovative and entertaining. We look for topics that cover the “holes” in the literature, important subjects that have been missed or undercovered — what nurses need to know before they know they need to know it. For a sense of what we publish, go to our website: www.nurse.com/ce/.

  2. After your topic is approved, e-mail your module goal, objectives, outline, and curriculum vitae in attachments to Nan Callender- Price at ncallender-price@gannettHG.com or mail them to her at Nursing Spectrum Division of Continuing Education, 6860 Santa Teresa Blvd., San Jose, CA 95119. She will review your materials, let you know whether any changes are required before you begin to write, and discuss the deadline for submission of your manuscript. Once you complete your manuscript, please e-mail it to her in an attachment.

  3. Paid peer reviewers (experts in your subject matter) will rigorously review your manuscript. In about three to five weeks, we will notify you about their decision. If reviews are favorable, you will be asked to revise the manuscript according to their suggestions.

  4. When your manuscript is in its final version, you will receive an edited copy for your approval. The only changes you may make at that point are those related to accuracy or clarity of information. Most modules are simultaneously published in all editions of Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek and on our websites.

Honorarium

Honorariums are awarded on an individual basis.

For More Information

Please contact Nan Callender-Price, RN, MA, Nursing Spectrum Division of Continuing Education:

ncallender-price@gannett.com
(800) 859-2091, Ext. 124
(925) 283-7263
(408) 249-7644 (fax)
6860 Santa Teresa Blvd.
San Jose, CA 95119

Reference Guidelines

General Rules

  1. Use AMA style.

  2. List footnoted citations under a “Reference” heading. Number citations consecutively in the text. Once a citation has a number, it keeps it throughout the narrative.

  3. List general references not specifically cited in the text under a “Bibliography” heading.
  4. Abbreviate journal names according to AMA style.

Examples of citations

Up to six authors, list them all

Hron G, Kollars M, Binder BR, Eichinger S, Kyrle PA. Identification of patients at low risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism by measuring thrombin generation. JAMA. 2006;296:397-402.

More than six authors, list first three, et al.

Carpenter C, Fischl MA, Hammer SM, et al. Antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection in 1997: updated recommendations of the international AIDS society, USA panel. JAMA. 1997;277:1962-1969.

Books (entire book)

Sherlock S, Dooley, J. Diseases of the Liver and Biliary System. 9th ed. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc; 2001.

Books (chapter in edited book)

Schenk EA. Management of persons with neurological problems. In: Phipps WJ, Manahon Donovan F, Sands JK, Marek JF, Neighbors M, eds. Medical-Surgical Nursing:Health and Illness Perspectives. 7th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2002:1787-1865.

CDs, Audiotapes, videotapes

Wound Healing. [videotape]. Irvine, CA: Concept   Media; 2006.

Internet citation

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves oncaspar for newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. FDA Website. Available at: www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ NEWS/2006/NEW01419.html. Accessed July 26, 2006.

Dissertation or master’s thesis

Caruso E. An Examination of Organizational Mentoring: The Case of Motorola [dissertation]. London, England: University of London; 1990.

Newspapers

Include author (if given), title, name of newspaper, date of newspaper, section (if applicable), and pages. Newspaper titles are not abbreviated:

Steinmetz G. Kafka is a symbol of Prague today; also, he’s a T-shirt. Wall Street Journal. October 10, 1996;A2, A6.

Poster

Clawson LL. Treatment and research perspectives in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: implications for nurses. Poster presented at: American Association of Neuroscience Nurses Annual Meeting, 1997, Houston, TX

Tips for Writing Test Questions

  1. Be sure the order of your questions matches
    the sequence information in the narrative. For example, exam question No.1 should correspond to the information that appears in the narrative first.

  2. Remember that test questions should measure mastery of the objectives. After you have finished writing the test, go back to the objectives and be certain that the test includes questions that relate to each objective.

  3. Make all questions multiple choice with four possible options labeled “a,” “b,” “c,” and “d.”

  4. Be certain that the three incorrect options are plausible.

  5. Use the same terminology in the test as in the narrative. (For example, if the narrative refers only to “hypertension,” use “hypertension,” not “high blood pressure,” in the test.)

  6. Make sure the correct option is derived directly from the narrative and clearly defensible as the best answer.

  7. Avoid using words in the correct option that are also found in the stem (the first part of the question). Doing so provides “clues” to the correct answer.

  8. Do not write “multiple-multiple” questions, that is, those that present a list of options, then ask the test taker to choose “I and II only,” “I, II, and III,” “All the above,” etc.

  9. Make sure that your options are not mutually exclusive. For example, if option “a” reads, “Slows the heart rate,” and option “b” reads, “Increases the heart rate,” these two options are mutually exclusive. The test taker can be reasonably certain that “c” and “d” are extraneous, and that either “a” or “b” is the correct answer.

  10. Be sure that one or more of your options is
    not included in another option. For example, if option “a” reads, “Affects the heart rate,” and option “b” reads, “Slows the heart rate,” option “b” is actually included in option “a.” Thus, if “b” is a correct response, “a” is also.

  11. Avoid writing the options “None of the above” and “All of the above.” Also, do not phrase questions in the negative, for example, using a phrase such as “all of the following EXCEPT.”

  12. Include an answer key.

Tips for Writing a Clinical Vignette

Please create a clinical vignette of 400 to 450 words that reflects the information in your CE module and that will further test the reader’s knowledge of your topic. Include four multiple choice questions with four distinct answer options, i.e., do not use “all of the above,” “none of the above,” “a and c,” etc., as multiple choice options. Provide a rationale for the correct answer. The four questions and rationales are included in the 400-to- 450 word limit. Below is an example of a vignette.

Clinical Vignette — Heart Failure

David Kensington arrives in the ED at 2:30 AM with shortness of breath. His vital signs are 154/92; 984-112-30. Lungs have bibasilar crackles up ½ posteriorly. Oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2) is 90%, and his heart reveals an S3. The monitor shows sinus tachycardia. An initial B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) assay is 1,650 pg/mL. He is treated with furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IVP and O2 at 3 L/min via nasal cannula. Before leaving the ED, he diureses 500 mL of urine.

At 6 AM, Mr. Kensington is transferred to the telemetry unit with a diagnosis of heart failure. His admission vital signs are 122/74; 98-102-24. Lungs have bibasilar crackles. The monitor shows sinus tachycardia. He receives an initial dose of enalapril (Vasotec) 2.5 mg PO. At 10 AM, his blood pressure is 106/60. He diureses an additional 600 mL of urine, and a repeat BNP assay is 1,100 pg/mL.


  1. When Mr. Kensington arrives in the telemetry unit, the initial nursing assessment should include — a. Chest X-ray b. Oxygen saturation c. ECG d. Echocardiogram Correct answer: b. The admission oxygen saturation is only 90%. Oxygen is administered, and a repeat oxygen saturation should be done to determine the response to treatment.
  2. The blood pressure on admission to the telemetry unit was lower because of — a. Diuresis b. Circulating BNP c. Tachycardia d. Oxygen administration Correct answer: a. Diuresis decreases excess circulating volume and lowers BP.
  3. The blood pressure decreased after administration of enalapril as the result of which mechanism? a. Excretion of excess sodium b. Excretion of excess volume c. Systemic vasodilatation d. Increased contractility Correct answer: c. Ace inhibitors such as enalapril produce vasodilatation, lowering the blood pressure and decreasing the workload on the failing ventricle.
  4. BNP levels decrease in response to which of the following? a. Vasodilatation b. Increased contractility c. Increased blood pressure d. Decreased volume Correct answer: d. BNP levels decrease in response to diuresis and loss of excess circulating volume.

From: American Medical Association Manual of Style. 9th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 1998.

About Us • Contact Us • Terms of Service • Subscriptions • Advertise • Privacy