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APA Style 7th ed - Citation Guide for Nursing & Health Sciences

The American Psychological Association (APA) style of documentation is widely used in behavioral, health and social sciences. This guide provides examples for citing common types of sources and identifying them in the text of your essay.

APA Style has two citation components. The reference list is found at the end of your essay. It lists all the sources cited in the text of your paper, described with 4 basic elements: the author, date, title, and source (where the work can be retrieved). In-text citations appear in the body of your paper as your sources are cited and use a brief author-date format. 

You may not always find guidelines or examples specific to the kind of source you want to cite. Keep in mind that the intent of the reference list is to give enough information for the reader to locate the works. Do the best you can, and make sure the format of all your references is consistent.

APA Mini Tutorial

Resources from the APA

For help beyond the scope of this guide, three sources from the APA provide in-depth information:

  • The APA Style website from the APA has extensive freely available resources, including Style and Grammar Guidelines and Instructional Aids. These include reference and in-text examples, sample papers, and much more.
     
  • APA Style Blog is the official companion to the APA Publication Manual, 7th edition. This free website offers weekly posts and updates, extensive examples and thorough explanations. Excellent resource for more nuanced questions about APA Style.