In scientific journals critical appraisal of submitted papers is a key part of publication and peer reviewers help to identify flaws and strengths in a paper

The process of publishing in scientific journals would not be possible without the commitment and skill of peer reviewers who provide critical appraisal of submitted papers. At Nurse Researcher we are grateful to the panel of reviewers who give their time and skills to support authors to improve their papers.

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Being a reviewer provides an opportunity to engage in the latest literature, offers the satisfaction of contributing to the professional discourse and extends your skills and knowledge of the profession and publishing.

What kind of skills are required to join the Nurse Researcher panel of reviewers?

Peer reviewers are exactly as the name suggests, peers who review submitted papers. They need skill in a similar field to the author and an understanding of the topic area. Whether you are a clinical nurse, nurse academic or nurse researcher, you could join the Nurse Researcher team.

Reviewers are encouraged to nominate clinical and research methods areas in which they have expertise, so concentrate on those you are confident in. Generally, reviewers are called on a few times per year, and can indicate if they are not available or if they feel that a paper does not match their expertise.

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Reviewers are asked to critically appraise what the authors say that they did and identify any flaws in the approach or the description. They also focus on how authors can enhance their description of what was done, identifying details that need to be clarified or areas requiring additional explanation.

Promptness in reviewing of papers is important

Providing positive feedback that highlights the paper’s strengths and weaknesses is a supportive way of improving the work and encouraging authors.

We appreciate that reviewer time is precious, but a protracted time to acceptance can be frustrating for authors. Reviewers should reply promptly to invitations and be honest if they are unable to review a paper. Waiting for a response and having to allocate a different reviewer adds significant time to the review process.

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However, once a review is accepted, asking for a short extension if unable to review by the due date can be faster than having to allocate a new reviewer.

To join the Nurse Researcher peer review panel email julie.sylvester@rcni.com

Elizabeth Halcomb is professor of primary healthcare nursing, School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia and editor of Nurse Researcher