Publication ethics are established to guarantee the quality of scientific publications, foster trust in scientific discoveries, and ensure proper attribution of work and ideas to individuals. Mosul Journal of Nursing (MJN) is committed to upholding these ethical standards as a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and strives to adhere to its (Guidelines) and (Core Practices). For the  (MJN), ethical standards in publication are paramount to ensure the integrity of scientific research and uphold public trust.

To maintain high ethical standards of publication of quality science, the publisher strives to work closely at all times with journal editors, authors, and peer-reviewers. The essentials of Mosul Journal of Nursing (MJN) publishing ethics for all groups involved in the publishing process are as follows:

Editors’ Responsibilities:

The editor of a journal holds a vital position in making important editorial decisions on all peer-reviewed articles submitted for publication. The essentials of Mosul Journal of Nursing (MJN) publishing ethics for all groups involved in the publishing process are as follows:

1. The editor should maintain the transparency of the academic research and record, preclude professional needs from cooperating with ethical standards, and always be willing to publish retractions, rectifications, and erratum when required.
2. The editor should assess manuscripts for their scientific quality and intellectual content, free from any biased decisions based on discrimination of race, gender, geographical origin, or religion of the author(s). The editor should evaluate manuscripts objectively based on their academic merit and free of any commercial or self-interests.
3. The editor should not disclose any information regarding submitted manuscripts before publication of the said manuscript.
4. Promoting research rectitude must be preserved. If at any stage the publisher suspects any kind of misconduct in research, it should be investigated promptly and in detail with suitable authority. Furthermore, if any suspicious act is observed in the peer review, it should be resolved with diligence.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities:

1. Providing a detailed, constructive, and unbiased evaluation promptly on the scientific content of the work.
2. Indicating whether the writing is relevant, concise, and clear and evaluating the originality as well as scientific accuracy.
3. Maintaining the confidentiality of the complete review process.

Complete the Review Process.

1. Notifying the journal editor about any financial or personal conflict of interest and declining to review the manuscript when a possibility of such a conflict exists.
2. Notifying the journal editor of any ethical concerns in their evaluation of submitted manuscripts such as any violation of ethical treatment of animal and/or human subjects or any considerable similarity between a previously published article and any reviewed manuscript.

Authors’ Responsibilities:

1. All the work reported in the manuscript must be original and free from any kind of plagiarism.
2. The work should not have been published elsewhere or submitted to any other journal(s) at the time of submission to Mosul Journal of Nursing .
3. Any potential conflict of interest must be acknowledged.
4. Proper acknowledgments to other work referred/cited (of any individual, company, or institution) must be given. Permission must be obtained for any content used from other sources.
5. Only those who have made any substantial contribution to the interpretation or composition of the submitted work should be listed as ‘Authors’. While other contributors should be mentioned as ‘co-authors’.

Publisher’s Responsibilities:

Mosul Journal of Nursing is committed to working with journal editors, defining clearly their relevant roles, ensuring appropriate decisions regarding publication procedures, and maintaining the transparency of editorial decisions. MJN ensures the integrity, autonomy, and originality of each published article concerning:

1. Publication and research funding
2. Publication ethics and rectitude
3. Confidentiality
4. Authorship and Copyright: All contributing authors should qualify for authorship. The order of authorship should be a joint decision of the co-authors. Sufficient participation in the work is of utmost importance.
5. Article modifications
6. Timely publication of content.

Principles of Transparency

Peer Review Processes: MJN employs a double-blind peer review process, where the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed from each other. This ensures unbiased evaluation of manuscripts based solely on their academic merit. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and are expected to provide constructive and objective feedback to help editors make informed decisions on manuscript publication. This process, as well as any policies related to the journal’s peer review procedures, is clearly described on the journal’s Web site. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/journal/process

Ownership and management: The College of Nursing at the University of Mosul / Iraq, serves as the official publisher of the Mosul Journal of Nursing. Established as a platform for scholarly discourse and research dissemination in the field of nursing, the journal showcases academic contributions from faculty members, researchers, and students within the college and beyond. With a commitment to advancing nursing knowledge and practice, the journal publishes peer-reviewed articles, research papers, case studies, and reviews that address various aspects of nursing education, practice, and healthcare delivery. Through its publication, the College of Nursing at the University of Mosul plays a pivotal role in fostering intellectual exchange and promoting excellence in nursing scholarship. https://uomosul.edu.iq/en/nursing/

Editorial Governance: MJN has a robust editorial board comprising experts in various areas of nursing and healthcare. The editorial board members contribute to the journal's strategic direction, oversee the peer review process, and uphold ethical standards in publishing. The editorial board's composition and roles are transparently communicated on the journal's website. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/journal/editorial.board

Copyright and Licensing: The Mosul Journal of Nursing (MJN) follows a copyright policy aligned with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1142.html

Contact Information Disclosure: MJN provides clear contact information for its editorial office, including email addresses and phone numbers. Authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders can easily reach out to the journal for inquiries, submissions, or feedback. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/journal/contact.us

Author Fees/Access: MJN operates on an open-access model, making the full text of published articles freely accessible to all readers without subscription fees. However, authors are typically required to pay article publication fees to support the journal's operational costs and ensure sustainability. Details regarding these fees, waivers, and payment methods are transparently communicated on the journal's website and in communication with authors. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1034.html

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their objectivity or impartiality in the publication process. This includes financial interests, affiliations, personal relationships, or other factors that could impact their judgment. Conflicts of interest are managed transparently and appropriately to maintain the integrity of the publication process. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1031.html

Publishing Schedule Disclosure: MJN follows a biannual publishing schedule, with issues released in January and July each year. The journal's publication calendar, including submission deadlines, review timelines, and publication dates, is publicly available to authors and readers. This transparency helps stakeholders plan and track the progress of submitted manuscripts. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1147.html

Archiving Policies: MJN has robust archiving policies in place to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of published content. The journal utilizes digital archiving platforms and repositories to store and archive past issues, ensuring that articles remain available and retrievable for future reference. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_22.html

Website Professionalism: The MJN website is designed and maintained to reflect professionalism, clarity, and accessibility. It provides comprehensive information about the journal, including editorial policies, submission guidelines, publication ethics, indexing, and editorial board members. The website is regularly updated to reflect current practices and policies, ensuring transparency and reliability for users. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/

Identification of and Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconduct: MJN takes allegations of research misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, citation manipulation, and other unethical behaviors, seriously. The journal employs rigorous screening processes, including the use of plagiarism detection software, to identify potential misconduct at the submission stage.

https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1030.html

Name of journal: The Journal name of the Mosul Journal of Nursing (MJN) has unique and not one that is easily confused with other journal

Violation of Publication Ethics

MJN maintains a strict policy against violations of publication ethics, including but not limited to:

1. Plagiarism: Intentionally using someone else’s ideas or original material without proper attribution is considered plagiarism. This includes copying content from other sources, including one's own previously published work, without citation.
2. Data Fabrication and Falsification: Fabricating or falsifying research data or results, including making up or manipulating data, is a serious violation of publication ethics.
3. Simultaneous Submission: Submitting a manuscript to MJN while it is under consideration by another journal without proper disclosure is not permitted.
4. Duplicate Publication: Publishing the same or substantially similar content in multiple journals without appropriate cross-referencing and disclosure is considered duplicate publication.
5. Redundant Publications: Dividing research outcomes into multiple articles to artificially increase publication numbers, without providing significant new insights, is considered redundant publication.
6. Improper Author Contribution or Attribution: Failing to appropriately credit all individuals who made significant contributions to the research or claiming authorship without fulfilling the criteria for authorship is a violation of ethics.
7. Citation Manipulation: Excessively citing one's own work or articles from a specific journal solely to boost citations or misrepresent the importance of the work is considered citation manipulation.

Handling Cases of Misconduct

If allegations of research misconduct arise during the peer review process or after publication, MJN follows a systematic approach to investigate and address these issues:

1. Initial Assessment: Upon receiving allegations of research misconduct, the editorial office conducts an initial assessment to determine the validity and seriousness of the allegations. This may involve reviewing the submitted manuscript, related correspondence, and supporting evidence.
2. Communication with Stakeholders: If the allegations warrant further investigation, MJN communicates with all relevant stakeholders, including authors, reviewers, and institutions, to gather additional information and perspectives on the matter.
3. Investigation Process: MJN initiates a thorough investigation into the allegations, following established guidelines and best practices. This may involve seeking expert opinions, consulting with the editorial board, and collaborating with external experts or institutions if necessary.
4. Fair and Transparent Process: Throughout the investigation, MJN maintains fairness, objectivity, and transparency in its process. All parties involved are given the opportunity to present their side of the story and provide any supporting documentation or explanations.
5. Decision and Actions: Based on the findings of the investigation, MJN takes appropriate actions to address the research misconduct. This may include issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern for published articles found to contain misconduct. Authors responsible for misconduct may face sanctions, including prohibitions from future submissions and editorial board or reviewer roles.
6. Publication of Findings: MJN may publish summaries or reports of the investigation findings and actions taken, ensuring transparency and accountability to the journal's readership and the broader academic community.

By proactively identifying and effectively addressing allegations of research misconduct, MJN upholds the highest standards of integrity and credibility in scholarly publishing.

Revenue Sources

MJN operates as a self-financed open-access journal, sustaining its operations through Article Publication Charges (APC) paid by authors. These charges are utilized to cover administrative, printing, and web presence maintenance costs. MJN employs a tiered APC scale, offering reduced rates for authors from low and middle-income countries, ensuring accessibility to a wider range of contributors. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1143.html

Advertising Policy

MJN maintains a strict policy against advertisements and commercially sponsored content within its publications. The journal does not endorse or promote any products or services through advertisements or sponsorships. This policy ensures editorial independence, integrity, and focuses solely on providing scholarly content to its readership.

Direct Marketing

Direct marketing activities conducted by MJN are guided by stringent guidelines to ensure appropriateness, accuracy, and non-intrusiveness. These activities primarily involve targeted solicitation of manuscripts and dissemination of information about the journal and its publisher. MJN's direct marketing approach is transparent, truthful, and aims to provide valuable and non-misleading information to potential authors and readers, fostering trust and credibility within the academic community. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1144.html.

Publication Ethics

At MJN, we adhere to strict publication ethics to uphold integrity, transparency, and scholarly rigor in our publishing process. Our policies are clearly visible on our website and cover the following areas:

Authorship and Contributorship: MJN follows guidelines on authorship and contributorship, where all individuals who have made significant contributions to the research are listed as authors. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors approve the final manuscript and its submission for publication. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1145.html

Complaints and Appeals Handling: MJN has established procedures for handling complaints and appeals regarding published articles or editorial decisions. Authors, reviewers, and readers can submit complaints or appeals through our designated channels, and we ensure prompt and fair resolution of these issues.  https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1146.html

Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests: MJN requires authors, reviewers, and editors to disclose any conflicts of interest or competing interests that could potentially bias their work or decisions. These disclosures are made transparently and are considered in the editorial process.

https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1031.html

Data Sharing and Reproducibility: MJN encourages authors to share data and materials related to their research to promote transparency and reproducibility. Authors are encouraged to provide data availability statements in their manuscripts.

https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1032.html

Ethical Oversight: MJN upholds ethical standards in research and publication, including adherence to relevant ethical guidelines and regulations. Research involving human subjects or animals must have appropriate ethical approval. https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1026.html

Intellectual Property: MJN respects intellectual property rights and expects authors to comply with copyright laws and regulations. Plagiarism and unauthorized use of copyrighted materials are strictly prohibited.

https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1149.html

Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections: MJN provides options for post-publication discussions, corrections, and retractions when errors or issues are identified in published articles. We prioritize accuracy and transparency in maintaining the integrity of the scientific record.

https://mjn.mosuljournals.com/page_1148.html

These policies are designed to ensure the highest ethical standards in publishing and to promote trust, credibility, and responsible conduct within the academic community.