Editorial policy

Mission

NursingAtoms publishes evidence-based clinical guides, NextGen licensure exam blueprints, continuing education resources, and health workforce policy for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, preceptors, and educators worldwide. We exist to make the best clinical evidence legible, actionable, and trustworthy at the bedside.

Sourcing Standards

We cite primary peer-reviewed literature and statutory health regulators in this order of preference:

1. World Health Organization (WHO) clinical practice guidelines
2. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) test plans and research
3. UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) & National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) & Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
5. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), American Nurses Association (ANA), and Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
6. National Center for Biotechnology Information / PubMed indexed clinical trials
7. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quality rules and federal staffing mandates
8. Accreditation bodies: ANCC Magnet Recognition, The Joint Commission (JCAHO), and Care Quality Commission (CQC)

We do not publish content that relies solely on commercial manufacturer claims, anonymous sources, or unreviewed AI output.

Author & Reviewer Requirements

• Authors must hold an active professional nursing or medical credential (BSN, RN, MSN, APRN, DNP, NP, MD, or PhD) issued by an accredited jurisdiction.
• Medical & Clinical Reviewers are named on pieces containing drug monographs, resuscitation protocols, or clinical decision support. They verify dosing, contraindications, and diagnostic criteria.
• Editors ensure clarity, citation fidelity, logical flow, and strict adherence to clinical de-identification standards.
• All clinical articles and calculators display verified author and reviewer bylines with their credentials and review timestamps.

Conflict of Interest

Authors and reviewers must disclose any commercial, financial, or institutional relationships related to pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or healthcare recruitment. Any relevant disclosures are printed directly in the article byline.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

We utilize AI systems for literature retrieval, question formatting, and editorial summarization. AI is never the sole author of clinical recommendations. Every AI-assisted item is reviewed and signed off by a human nurse educator or clinician. See our AI disclosure for detailed workflow documentation.

Update Cadence

Clinical calculator algorithms, drug monographs, and licensure test plans are audited at least quarterly. When statutory exam test plans change (e.g. NCSBN 3-year test plan revisions), affected content is updated immediately with clear revision notes.

Corrections

We maintain a transparent, public corrections log. Clinical corrections (such as medication dosages or unit conversions) are revised immediately, accompanied by an editor's notice detailing the change and timestamp.

What We Do Not Publish

• Sponsored promotional claims for specific proprietary medications without disclosed sponsorship.
• Unverified clinical outcome guarantees lacking peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials.
• Protected Health Information (PHI) or identifiable patient case details. All practice reflections must adhere to HIPAA de-identification standards.
• Content that violates scope-of-practice standards established by statutory nursing boards and professional nursing acts.

Feedback & Corrections

Spot an error or have feedback? Email editorial@nursingatoms.com or for corrections specifically: corrections@nursingatoms.com.