Normalizing Rejection. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Conn, Vicki S.; Zerwic, Julie; Jefferson, Urmeka; Anderson, Cindy M.; Killion, Cheryl M.; Smith, Carol E.; Cohen, Marlene Z.; Fahrenwald, Nancy L.; Herrick, Linda; Topp, Robert; Benefield, Lazelle E.; Loya, Julio
• Is Part Of: Western journal of nursing research. Volume 38:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 137
• Page End: 154
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: publications -- financing -- organized -- peer review research; Nursing -- Research -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Research -- West (U.S.) -- Periodicals; Nursing -- West (U.S.) -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing Research -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- Recherche -- États-Unis (Ouest) -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- États-Unis (Ouest) -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers; Recherche; États-Unis (Ouest); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 610.730702
• DOI: 10.1177/0193945915589538
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0193-9459

Abstract

Getting turned down for grant funding or having a manuscript rejected is an uncomfortable but not unusual occurrence during the course of a nurse researcher's professional life. Rejection can evoke an emotional response akin to the grieving process that can slow or even undermine productivity. Only by "normalizing" rejection, that is, by accepting it as an integral part of the scientific process, can researchers more quickly overcome negative emotions and instead use rejection to refine and advance their scientific programs. This article provides practical advice for coming to emotional terms with rejection and delineates methods for working constructively to address reviewer comments.