What is an indexed journal?
A scientific journal is considered indexed when it is included in a recognized bibliographic index or database, reflecting standards of quality and relevance for the journal and/or its publications.
Why should a scientific journal be indexed?
When looking for a scientific article, we usually start with a database such as PubMed or a digital library such as the Virtual Health Library (VHL). Once a journal is indexed, its articles appear in these resources, making them accessible to researchers, attracting more readers, and raising the journal’s profile.
Are all indexing services the same?
No. Each indexing service has its own functions and features. Some focus on information about the journal itself, such as its aims, scope, and publication frequency, while others help readers discover its published articles.
Some databases index only basic article information, such as the title, authors, and abstract. Others allow the full article to be deposited, including a PDF for readers to access.
How does a journal become indexed?
A scientific journal usually needs to submit a formal application to the indexing service it wishes to join. Each database has its own application form and assessment criteria.
“The indexing process is similar to manuscript submission and peer review: scientific journals submit their documents and wait for the database to review their application” (Zanotto, 2023; translated from Portuguese). If the journal meets all the requirements, it will be indexed. If not, it may need to wait an average of six months to two years before applying again.
Keep in mind: Some indexing services have a simple registration process: the journal only needs to complete the relevant form, as is the case with Google Scholar. Others assess compliance with open science principles and good editorial practices, as the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) does. Other databases, including MEDLINE, SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science, apply particularly rigorous standards. In addition to the criteria above, they assess publication timeliness, scope, impact, representation, scientific rigor, and the quality of the journal’s content.
Once a journal is indexed, its articles or information become part of the indexing service’s database. Readers can access them there without having to visit each original website individually. This makes sharing knowledge faster and extends its reach.
Why should I publish in an indexed journal?
One way to answer this is with another question: “Do you want to expand the reach of your research, make it a reference in your field, or increase your impact as a researcher, nationally or internationally?” If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should publish in an indexed journal.
Indexed journals make articles easier for readers to find, increasing the likelihood that other researchers will cite them in related studies. Researchers whose work is frequently cited are often recognized as authorities in their fields and drawn on in research projects, which can strengthen their scientific impact and academic reputation.
Which indexing services matter most?
As noted earlier, each indexing service serves a different purpose, so its importance also varies.
For health research, the most important indexing databases are MEDLINE, SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science, as they apply rigorous inclusion criteria.
In nursing, researchers should also consult subject-specific databases, such as the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL).
Is CAPES Qualis an indexing service?
Qualis is not an indexing service. It is a “system used to classify the scientific output of graduate programs with regard to articles published in scientific journals” (Brasil, c2022; translated from Portuguese). This assessment is carried out by Brazil’s Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).
CAPES assigns scientific journals ratings ranging from A1, the highest, to C, which carries no weight. These ratings are based on metrics from the databases in which the journals are indexed. The main metrics used to determine the ratings were Clarivate’s Journal Impact Factor, Scopus’s CiteScore, and Google Scholar’s h-index. A journal therefore needs to be indexed in at least one of these databases to receive a rating.
Want to learn more about how Qualis, CiteScore, and the Journal Impact Factor work? Find out here
Now that we have explored why indexing matters, let’s take a look at the Brazilian nursing journals included in Scopus and Web of Science.
1. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem (e-ISSN: 1518-8345)
- Brazil’s leading nursing journal in terms of metrics, RLAE was founded in 1993. It is the official scientific publication of the University of São Paulo’s Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing and the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development. Its mission is to publish scientific research findings in nursing and other fields of interest to health professionals.
- Indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.
- Qualis (2017-2020): A2
- Journal Impact Factor (JIF 2024): 1.3
- CiteScore (2024): 2.5
- Website: http://rlae.eerp.usp.br/
2. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem (e-ISSN: 1984-0446)
- Founded in 1932, REBEn is Brazil’s oldest nursing journal and the official publication of the Brazilian Nursing Association (ABEn). Its mission is to disseminate scientific work from different fields relevant to nursing, including work that reflects the Association’s policy agenda.
- Indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.
- Qualis (2017-2020): A4
- Journal Impact Factor (JIF 2024): 1.2
- CiteScore (2024): 2.1
- Website: https://reben.com.br/revista/
3. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP (e-ISSN: 1980-220X)
- The official journal of the University of São Paulo’s School of Nursing, REEUSP aims to foster the production and dissemination of knowledge in nursing and related fields, emphasizing international dialogue to advance nursing science.
- Indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.
- Qualis (2017-2020): A2
- Journal Impact Factor (JIF 2024): 1.3
- CiteScore (2024): 2.2
- Website: https://www.revistas.usp.br/reeusp/index
4. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem (e-ISSN: 1982-0194)
- The official journal of UNIFESP’s Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Acta Paulista de Enfermagem was founded in 1988. Its mission is to disseminate scientific knowledge produced through rigorous research methods and ethical practice.
- Indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.
- Qualis (2017-2020): A4
- Journal Impact Factor (JIF 2024): 1.0
- CiteScore (2024): 1.6
- Website: https://acta-ape.org
5. Rev Rene (e-ISSN: 2175-6783)
- Rev Rene was established by the Northeast Nursing Network and published its first volume in 2000. Published by the Federal University of Ceará, it aims to promote the development and exchange of knowledge directly relevant to all areas of nursing and other health professions. It is committed to providing a journal of excellence in nursing and health sciences, grounded in scientific knowledge, experience, and innovation.
- Indexed in Web of Science.
- Qualis (2017-2020): B1
- Journal Impact Factor (JIF 2024): 0.3
- Website: http://periodicos.ufc.br/rene/index
6. Revista de Pesquisa Cuidado é Fundamental Online (e-ISSN: 2175-5361)
- RPCFO is a scientific journal published by the graduate nursing programs at the Alfredo Pinto School of Nursing of the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Its mission is to publish original, previously unpublished work by Brazilian and international authors that advances knowledge and development in nursing, health, and related sciences.
- Indexed in Web of Science.
- Qualis (2017-2020): B2
- Journal Impact Factor (JIF 2024): 0.1
- Website: https://seer.unirio.br/cuidadofundamental/index
7. Texto e Contexto Enfermagem (e-ISSN: 1980-265X)
- Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the journal of the graduate nursing program at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Founded in 1992, it aims to disseminate scientific and technological knowledge in health and nursing, with a commitment to research quality and the advancement of health sciences.
- Indexed in Scopus.
- Qualis (2017-2020): A3
- No Journal Impact Factor.
- CiteScore (2024): 1.5
- Website: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/textoecontexto/index
8. Cogitare Enfermagem (e-ISSN: 2176-9133)
- Published by the Department of Nursing at the Federal University of Paraná, Cogitare Enfermagem was founded in 1996. Its mission is to publish and disseminate knowledge in health and nursing with excellence and respect for ethical principles.
- Indexed in Scopus.
- Qualis (2017-2020): B1
- No Journal Impact Factor.
- CiteScore (2024): 0.6
- Website: https://revistas.ufpr.br/cogitare
9. Revista Baiana de Enfermagem (e-ISSN: 2178-8650)
- Revista Baiana de Enfermagem (RBE) is an electronic scientific journal affiliated with the graduate program in nursing and health. Founded in 1981 by the Federal University of Bahia’s School of Nursing, it aims to disseminate scientific knowledge in nursing, education, and other fields connected with health and human development, arising from care, management, teaching, research, and outreach activities in Brazil and internationally.
- Indexed in Scopus.
- Qualis (2017-2020): B2
- No Journal Impact Factor.
- CiteScore (2024): 0.6
- Website: https://periodicos.ufba.br/index.php/enfermagem/index
10. Revista Enfermagem UERJ (ISSN: 0104-3552)
- Founded in 1993, Revista Enfermagem UERJ is published by the Faculty of Nursing at Rio de Janeiro State University. Its mission is to publish original, previously unpublished work in nursing, health, and related fields, particularly medical-surgical nursing, obstetric nursing, pediatric nursing, mental health and psychiatric nursing, public health, and emerging, reemerging, and neglected diseases. It welcomes research findings, theoretical studies, critical literature reviews, and discussions of current issues relevant to human health. It also provides a training ground for emerging researchers, preparing them to work as authors, editors, and peer reviewers for Brazilian and international publications, thereby strengthening science in Brazil and worldwide.
- Indexed in Scopus.
- Qualis (2017-2020): A4
- No Journal Impact Factor.
- CiteScore (2024): 0.6
- Website: https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/enfermagemuerj
11. Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem (e-ISSN: 1983-1447)
- Published by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul’s School of Nursing, Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem (RGE) was founded in 1976. Its mission is to help disseminate knowledge in health by publishing scientific work of interest to nursing in Brazil and internationally.
- Indexed in Scopus.
- Qualis (2017-2020): A3
- No Journal Impact Factor.
- CiteScore (2024): 1.8
- Website: https://seer.ufrgs.br/rgenf
12. Online Brazilian Journal of Nursing (ISSN: 1676-4285)
- Affiliated with the Aurora de Afonso Costa School of Nursing at Fluminense Federal University, OBJN was founded in 2002. Its mission is to record, retrieve, and disseminate information in the form of significant scientific evidence, championing editorial freedom and the global exchange of knowledge among nursing and health researchers and professionals.
- Indexed in Scopus.
- Qualis (2017-2020): B1
- No Journal Impact Factor.
- CiteScore (2024): 0.3
- Website: https://objn.uff.br
Want to discover more nursing journals while avoiding predatory ones? Take a look at the list we have put together for you! View the list
*Originally published on March 21, 2024, and updated on July 21, 2025.
**Journal data were collected from Scopus’s SciVal and Web of Science’s Master Journal List on July 21, 2025. Journals may subsequently be removed from these indexing databases if they no longer meet the criteria, and new journals may be added.
REFERENCES
ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORES CIENTÍFICOS (ABEC). Indexadores para periódicos científicos. São Paulo: Abec Brasil, 2022.
BARRAVIERA, B.; FERREIRA JUNIOR, R. S. Webinar – Revistas Indexadas: “desafios a vencer”. YouTube: ACFB Academia de Ciências Farmacêuticas do Brasil, July 28, 2021. 1 video (1 h 38 min 42 s). Available at: https://youtu.be/AZMV3hWiqtg. Accessed March 20, 2024.
BRASIL. Plataforma Sucupira. Nota Qualis Periódicos. Brasília: CAPES, c2022. Available at: https://sucupira.capes.gov.br/sucupira/. Accessed January 24, 2024.
DONATO, H. Revista Indexada: o que significa e exige? Acta Urológica Portuguesa, Lisbon, vol. 34, nos. 3–4, pp. 5–6, 2017. DOI: 10.24915/aup.34.3-4.75. Available at: https://www.actaurologica portuguesa.com/index.php/aup/article/view/75. Accessed March 20, 2024.
ZANOTTO, F. P. Revistas indexadas. Escrever Ciência, São Paulo, January 3, 2023. Available at: https://www.escreverciencia.com/post/revistas-indexadas. Accessed March 20, 2024.