Author Guideline

To facilitate the preparation and submission of manuscripts, authors are required to follow the guidelines below:

1. Manuscript Format

  • Manuscripts should be written using single spacing, formatted in two columns, with margins of at least 2.5 cm, and prepared on A4 paper size (21 cm × 29.7 cm).
  • Manuscript files must be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx). Optimal Nursing Journal (ONJ) does not accept manuscripts submitted in other formats, such as LaTeX or PDF files.
  • The recommended font is Times New Roman. The article title should use 14 pt font size, while the main manuscript text should use 12 pt font size (please refer to the official article template provided by the journal).

2. Manuscript Length

  • The manuscript should contain approximately 3,000–4,000 words, excluding the title, author information, abstract, and references.
  • The recommended manuscript length is approximately 10–15 pages.

3. Article Structure

  • Manuscripts should follow the IMRaD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) and should include, at minimum:
    • Introduction
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Conclusion

4. Article Title

  • The article title should consist of approximately 12–14 words.
  • The title should not contain unnecessary abbreviations.
  • The title should be concise, informative, and clearly represent the content of the manuscript.

5. Author Information

  • The names of all authors must be included in the manuscript without academic degrees or professional titles.
  • Authors must be listed in the correct order according to their contributions.
  • The corresponding author must provide an active email address for publication and communication purposes.
  • The full names of all authors must follow the format that will appear in the published article.

6. Structured Abstract

  • Authors must provide a structured abstract in English and Indonesian, including relevant keywords.
  • The abstract should not exceed 250 words.
  • The structured abstract should include:
    • Research objectives;
    • Methodology;
    • Main findings/results;
    • Practical and/or social implications;
    • Originality or value of the study.

7. Keywords

  • Authors must provide 3–5 keywords or keyword combinations relevant to the article topic.
  • Keywords should be arranged alphabetically.
  • Keywords should not use abbreviations.
  • Authors are encouraged to use standardized keywords relevant to the field of nursing and healthcare.

8. Article Categories

During submission, authors must select the appropriate article category:

  • Original Research
  • Case Study
  • Systematic Review
  • General Review

Submitted manuscripts must represent original scientific work conducted within the last five years and must not have been previously published elsewhere.

9. Titles and Subtitles

  • Titles and subtitles should be concise and clearly demonstrate the hierarchy and organization of the manuscript.
  • Authors should maintain consistency in the formatting of headings and subheadings throughout the manuscript.

10. Figures and Tables

  • All figures and tables must be submitted in electronic format.
  • Figures should be included in the submitted manuscript in JPEG format (non-editable).
  • Tables should be provided in an editable format within the manuscript.
  • Figures and tables should present important concepts, findings, or information that support the manuscript.
  • Information presented in tables should not be unnecessarily repeated in the main text. The text should focus on explaining and interpreting the key findings.
  • Each table and figure must include:
    • An appropriate title;
    • Necessary explanations or footnotes;
    • Sequential numbering using Arabic numerals.
  • Authors must ensure that every table and figure is cited appropriately within the manuscript text.
  • The maximum number of tables allowed is 5 tables, and the maximum number of figures is 3 figures per manuscript.

11. References

  • References should primarily consist of recent and reliable scientific sources.
  • Authors are encouraged to use:
    • Scientific journal articles published within the last 5 years;
    • Relevant textbooks published within the last 10 years.
  • Authors are encouraged to use reference management software such as Mendeley.
  • Citations and references must follow the APA 7th edition referencing style.
  • The reference list at the end of the manuscript must be arranged alphabetically according to the required citation format.