What? Me Review?
By Casey Hooke, PhD, APRN, PCNS, CPON, FAAN
Assistant Editor, Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing
You have received an email invitation to review a manuscript for a journal…. and now you are deciding your next steps. The first question to ask: is this a legitimate journal (and not a predatory one)? If it is a true professional journal and the topic is in your area of expertise, you might be asking yourself, why should I?
There are multiple reasons… yes, everyone has a lot on their “to-do” list. It is tempting to think, “not one more thing!” But think again, there are benefits for you, the journal, and the author when you agree to review. First, if you want to be an author and publish your work (i.e research, QI, critical reviews), you have a responsibility to review. Reviews don’t happen by magic; it is the hard work and dedication of people like you who make journals possible. This allows health care providers to access the best evidence to improve the care of their patients. We all have a responsibility to contribute to publishing the cutting edge knowledge that improves health.
Secondly, when you review, you learn more about authorship. When I read a great manuscript, I teach myself about what the author did to communicate so effectively. When I read a poor manuscript, I think, how can I avoid making similar mistakes? When you write a review, you learn more about how to provide feedback in a professional way that empowers the writer to improve. Honing this skill helps you improve how you communicate with others whether it is in providing feedback to your students or communicating with professional colleagues.
Thirdly, serving as a reviewer speaks well to your professional commitment. Reviewers include this information on their curriculum vitae. In their annual performance review, specifics on these accomplishments (what journal/how many reviews) can be included as service outcomes. Professional service is often a consideration for promotion in academia. Being a reviewer that provides quality reviews is an important step when editors are considering invitations to serve on a journal’s editorial board.
Finally, for those who are members of a professional organization, the organization’s journal represents the science and knowledge for that specialty. When you serve the journal, you are serving all the members who seek to learn and continually improve the care they provide. So, when that next email invitation comes to you, think about the opportunity you have to advance science, one manuscript at a time.
About the author
