Retractions in Nursing as a Systems Problem: A Journal Systems Framework Perspective

Area of Science:

• Scholarly publishing integrity
• Health sciences research ethics
• Journal editorial systems

Background:

• Retractions in nursing are frequently viewed as isolated incidents of misconduct or editorial oversight.
• A longitudinal analysis of retracted nursing articles and the Journal Systems Framework (JSF) offer a new perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reframe nursing retractions as system-level indicators.
• To analyze how journal systems influence retraction processes.
• To advocate for strengthening editorial infrastructure.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of 123 retracted nursing articles (1997-2022).
• Application of the Journal Systems Framework (JSF) to assess editorial capacity and governance.
• Examination of retraction notice quality, timeliness, and post-retraction citation patterns.

Main Results:

• 123 nursing articles were retracted between 1997 and 2022.
• Concerns included ethical violations, inconsistent retraction notice quality, delayed actions, and continued citation post-retraction.
• Journal systems demonstrate varying capacities for corrective action, impacting retraction transparency and visibility.

Conclusions:

• Retractions reflect system-level differences in editorial capacity, governance, and infrastructure.
• A systems-aware approach can enhance transparency, resilience, and trust in nursing scholarship.
• Strengthening editorial infrastructure is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and its impact on healthcare practice.