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Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify predatory journals in nursing, describe their characteristics and editorial standards, and document experiences of authors, peer reviewers, and editors affiliated with these journals. Design Using two sources that list predatory journals, the research team created a list of nursing journals. In Phase One, the team collected data on characteristics of predatory nursing journals such as types of articles published, article processing charge, and peer review process. In Phase Two, the team surveyed a sample of authors, reviewers, and editors to learn more about their experiences with their affiliated journals. Methods Data from the review of predatory nursing journals were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Written comments were summarized and categorized. Findings There were 140 predatory nursing journals from 75 publishers. Most journals were new, having been inaugurated in the past 1 to 2 years. One important finding was that many journals only published one or two volumes and then either ceased publishing or published fewer issues and articles after the first volume. Journal content varied widely, and some journals published content from dentistry and medicine, as well as nursing. Qualitative findings from the surveys confirmed previously published anecdotal evidence, including authors selecting journals based on spam emails and inability to halt publication of a manuscript, despite authors’ requests to do so. Conclusions Predatory journals exist in nursing and bring with them many of the “red flags” that have been noted in the literature, including lack of transparency about editorial processes and misleading information promoted on websites. The number of journals is high enough to warrant concern in the discipline about erosion of our scholarly literature. Clinical Relevance Nurses rely on the published literature to provide evidence for high‐quality, safe care that promotes optimal patient outcomes. Research published in journals that do not adhere to the highest standards of publishing excellence have the potential to compromise nursing scholarship and is an area of concern.

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Conducting a focus group is only one approach to gathering information. The worthiness of the information derived from a focus group depends on many factors. The main advantage of a focus group is that it is a convenient, cost-effective, relatively fast method to collect information from a number of individuals. Useful information only can be obtained with special attention to research methods and assessment of the reliability and validity of collected data. Using a focus group should be considered when the method is appropriate to answer the research question. Remember, adequate resources and skill are required to conduct a focus group in a manner that ensures the quality of the results.