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Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 14 (1) 1 
http://dx.doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v14i1.333

Editorial 
 

The Importance of Reviewers 
 

Pamela Stewart Fahs, RN, DSN, Editor 
 

I recently attending a session at the Eastern Nurses Research Society in Philadelphia, PA 

and was able to attend a workshop on “Publishing in High-Impact Nursing Journals”. Four of the 

top nursing journals were represented by their Editors. One point in their presentations was the 

importance of those in the professional community who give so unselfishly of their time and 

effort in the role of journal reviewers. I know how important this role is for the Journal of Rural 

Nursing and Health Care. We are an open source journal, and can be accessed free of charge 

electronically. We do not charge our authors for publication of the manuscript. Unlike the bigger 

journals, we do not have a paid staff. Everything done for this journal is done because of the 

commitment to rural health and populations along with the importance of scholarship. This 

journal is the official organ of the Rural Nurse Organization (RNO) and we often call upon our 

colleagues to review manuscripts. Those answering the call are so appreciated, but they are few 

in number in an organization the size of the RNO. There is a need for more of us to step up and 

take the challenge to review.  

Reviewing can be helpful to the referee by: (a) keeping you abreast of the field, (b) 

exposing you to more examples of writing which ultimately can help your own scholarship, and 

(c) this role can be helpful in promotion for both academic ranks and clinical ladders. Much of 

the benefit gained from those who are reviewers for journals goes to the individuals who submit 

their manuscripts for consideration. You as a reviewer can help the author(s) see where a passage 

needs to be strengthened or where flow of the writing can be enhanced. You help them see 

problems that they may not be able to recognize because they are so close to the piece. You can 



Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 14 (1) 2 
http://dx.doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v14i1.333

bolster their confidence by pointing out what works well and encouraging them to pull one more 

piece into the findings that connect the work to rural nursing.  

Having a broader base of reviewers strengthens the journal and the discipline by increasing 

the breadth and depth of expertise. We seem to attack a lot of manuscripts on issues of advanced 

practice nursing, so having Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialist on the list of 

reviewers is very helpful. We also attract a wide range of topical areas, and population focused 

work. If you are interested in reviewing please email me at psfahs@binghamton.edu with your 

contact information and a curriculum vita or resume. If you are working with a colleague who 

should be reviewing, please give them my contact information. Most of the time those chosen to 

review have been published themselves. However, I am also looking for people who are expert 

clinicians in many health care topics. For those of you who do review for the Online Journal of 

Rural Nursing and Health Care, thank you for your contribution to the discipline, scholarship and 

this journal.