Why Does it Take so Long to Process My Manuscript?

Editorial Why Does it Take so Long to Process My Manuscript? This is the most common question I receive! I understand that authors work very hard to compose and revise their submissions. The process has 3 stages. Obviously first is the submission stage. Once the manuscript is uploaded into the Elsevier Electronic (EE) system, I receive a notice via e-mail that a new author has registered. I receive this type of e-mail approximately three to five times a week. I go in to the system, assign myself as editor and then I am able to send invitations to reviewers. Pain Management Nursing is fortunate that the number of reviewers has grown substantially over the past 4 years. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, send me an e-mail! I choose reviewers to critique a manuscript according to many criteria. Some are busy furthering their education, whereas others have to step back to care for a loved one. One reviewer needed a break because she was moving after many years at one residence, and others have busy times during the year. I invite two reviewers for each manuscript. This invitation goes out automatically in the EE system. Once invited, the reviewers typically take a little time to accept or decline. All of the reviewers are committed, passionate, and experts in their respective areas. Most reviewers spend hours on each manuscript giving very detailed comments. They may go right down to the page number and line number, write what was written, and suggest changes. Many times, the reviewer will suggest other references or go to Scopus to find something for the author. Sometimes the manuscript is so specific that some reviewers will recommend an outside expert to review the manuscript. This adds to the time line. As you can imagine, the outside expert is very busy as well. We typically ask for the review in 21 days, but sometimes that does not happen. Once a reviewer agrees to review a manuscript, the comments are put into the EE system. I am sent an e-mail that a reviewer has sent comments about the manuscript. When both reviews are in, I am notified and I make my decision in as timely a manner as possible. When a manuscript is returned to the author, the time line can be any length. I have had authors who revise the manuscript 6 or 10 months later. Other authors have a faster turnaround time. I am notified

by the EE system when a revised manuscript has been uploaded. I review the reviewers’ comments and look to see how the author has revised the manuscript. The time for a decision to be made usually depends on how much work was needed. If I find that more changes are necessary, the manuscript is sent back with comments. Usually the author revises the manuscript quickly at this stage. The next stage is the processing stage. The accepted manuscript is sent to the typesetter that prepares the galley proofs of the final article. This process entails editing, mostly looking for copyright permission if needed. Then the manuscript is typeset paying attention to figures, tables, and pictures. When complete, the galley proofs are sent to the author and to me. We are given 48 hours to return comments on a galley proof. When the corrections are made, the article is published online and given a digital object identifier number (DOI). In most countries, this is ‘‘counted’’ as publication for promotion decisions. The final stage is the publication in the journal. Pain Management Nursing is published 4 times a year, and we have a limit to the number of pages that can be published per issue. This is where the real waiting begins. From the end of May 2007 to February 2012, 300 manuscripts were received. There were 100 manuscripts that passed through the journal in 2011. In March 2012, a grand total of 93 manuscripts were ready to be processed. To be fair, I try to publish articles that have been waiting the longest. If possible, I try to have a concentration of one subject in an issue. That is not always possible. There are other times when very important articles, such as guidelines or procedures done by ASPMN members, take precedence. I hope this answers the most frequently asked question. Suggestions will be accepted.

Joyce S. Willens, PhD, RN, BC College of Nursing, Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania Ó 2012 by the American Society for Pain Management Nursing doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2012.03.008

Pain Management Nursing, Vol 13, No 2 (June), 2012: p 69