Aim: To investigate the research papers published in nursing journals that were regularly broadcasted and have peer-review committee between 2007 and 2102 in terms of some features such as type of investigation, author’s position, thesis status, publication language, subject area and sample group in our country.
Method: A total of 11 nursing journals were included in the scope of research carried out retrospectively and descriptively. The sampling of investigation consisted of research articles published in nursing journals between 2007 and 2012. In data collection a data collection form involving eight questions was used. Data of research were analyzed with SPSS package program, version 17.0. During evaluation of data number and percentage calculations were used.
Results: It was established that most of the articles included in scope of research were published in Journal of Anadolu Nursing and Health Sciences (29.5 %); vast majority of studies published (80.7 %) had observational characteristic; 75.6 % were carried out by instructors; most of them (96.6 %) were studies out of thesis; and 93.5 % were written in Turkish. When subject areas were studied it was determined that 16,7 % of them were related to the fi eld of mental health nursing and students have comprised 27.2 % of the sampling group.
Conclusion: This study revealed that the investigations published in nursing journals in Turkey between 2007 and 2012, had rather an observational characteristic, they were studies out of thesis, they were carried out by instructors in the fi eld of mental health nursing with students and were written in Turkish. Based on these results, increasing the participation of nurses working in service into investigations and conducting community-based and service-oriented investigations can be recommended.