Citing Nursing Textbooks in APA 7th Edition: Examples and Guidance

Accurate citations are essential in academic writing, particularly in the nursing field where evidence-based practice is paramount. Adhering to the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition guidelines ensures proper attribution and avoids plagiarism. This guide provides examples of how to cite nursing textbooks in APA 7th edition, drawing from common scenarios and resources. This is crucial when referencing materials like Ackley and Ladwig’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook, or similar comprehensive nursing texts.

When citing textbooks, it’s important to distinguish between whole book citations and chapter citations, especially when dealing with edited books or adapted editions, which are common in nursing literature. Let’s explore different citation formats with examples.

Citing a Chapter in an Edited Nursing Textbook (Adapted Edition)

Nursing textbooks are frequently updated and adapted for different regions or contexts. Consider a textbook that is originally published in one country and then adapted for another. Physical Examination & Health Assessment serves as a good example, originating as an American publication and adapted for a Canadian context.

Here’s how to cite a chapter from the 4th Canadian edition of Physical Examination & Health Assessment in APA 7th, based on the examples provided:

Jarvis, C. (2024). Critical thinking and evidence-informed assessment (A. J. Browne, Cdn. Adapt.). In C. Jarvis & A. Eckhardt (Eds.), & A. J. Browne, J. MacDonald-Jenkins, & M. Luctkar-Flude (Cdn. Eds.), *Physical examination and health assessment* (4th Cdn. ed., pp. 1-10). Elsevier.

Explanation of the components:

• Jarvis, C. – Author of the chapter.
• (2024). – Year of publication.
• Critical thinking and evidence-informed assessment – Title of the chapter.
• (A. J. Browne, Cdn. Adapt.). – Indicates the Canadian adaptation by A.J. Browne.
• In C. Jarvis & A. Eckhardt (Eds.), & A. J. Browne, J. MacDonald-Jenkins, & M. Luctkar-Flude (Cdn. Eds.), – Editors of the book. First listed are the original editors (Jarvis & Eckhardt), followed by the Canadian editors. (Eds.) and (Cdn. Eds.) clarify their roles.
• Physical examination and health assessment – Title of the book (italicized).
• (4th Cdn. ed., pp. 1-10). – Edition and page numbers of the chapter.
• Elsevier. – Publisher.

This format clearly distinguishes between the original author, adapter, original editors, and adapting editors, which is crucial for accurately representing the source.

Citing the Whole Edited Nursing Textbook (Adapted Edition)

To cite the entire 4th Canadian edition of Physical Examination & Health Assessment, the format is simpler, focusing on the editors of the whole book:

Jarvis, C., & Eckhardt, A. (Eds.), & Browne, A. J., MacDonald-Jenkins, J., & Luctkar-Flude, M. (Cdn. Eds.). (2024). *Physical examination and health assessment* (4th Cdn. ed.). Elsevier.

Explanation of the components:

• Jarvis, C., & Eckhardt, A. (Eds.), – Original editors of the book, with (Eds.) indicating their role.
• & Browne, A. J., MacDonald-Jenkins, J., & Luctkar-Flude, M. (Cdn. Eds.). – Canadian editors, with (Cdn. Eds.) indicating their role. The ampersand (&) is used before the last editor in each group and before the Canadian editors group.
• (2024). – Year of publication.
• Physical examination and health assessment – Title of the book (italicized).
• (4th Cdn. ed.). – Edition of the book.
• Elsevier. – Publisher.

This citation style is appropriate when you are referencing the textbook as a whole, rather than a specific chapter.

Applying to Ackley and Ladwig’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook Citation

Now, let’s consider how to apply these principles to cite Ackley and Ladwig’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care. Assuming you are citing the latest edition, and it’s a standard American publication without adaptation, the citation would be more straightforward.

For example, to cite a chapter from the handbook, let’s assume a chapter titled “Impaired Gas Exchange” in the 13th edition (published in 2023). Since Ackley, Ladwig, and Flynn are listed as authors on the cover of the 13th edition, and potentially chapter authors as well, a chapter citation might look like this (assuming they are also the editors of the whole book):

Ackley, B. J., Ladwig, G. B., & Flynn Makic, M. B. (2023). Impaired gas exchange. In B. J. Ackley, G. B. Ladwig, & M. B. Flynn Makic (Eds.), *Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care* (13th ed., pp. [insert page numbers]). Elsevier.

Explanation:

• Ackley, B. J., Ladwig, G. B., & Flynn Makic, M. B. – Authors of the chapter.
• (2023). – Year of publication of the 13th edition.
• Impaired gas exchange. – Title of the chapter.
• In B. J. Ackley, G. B. Ladwig, & M. B. Flynn Makic (Eds.), – Editors of the book. If the chapter authors are the same as the editors, list them again as editors.
• Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care – Title of the book (italicized).
• (13th ed., pp. [insert page numbers]). – Edition and page range of the chapter. You need to replace “[insert page numbers]” with the actual page numbers of the “Impaired Gas Exchange” chapter.
• Elsevier. – Publisher.

To cite the entire 13th edition of Ackley and Ladwig’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook:

Ackley, B. J., Ladwig, G. B., & Flynn Makic, M. B. (2023). *Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care* (13th ed.). Elsevier.

Explanation:

• Ackley, B. J., Ladwig, G. B., & Flynn Makic, M. B. – Authors/Editors of the book.
• (2023). – Year of publication.
• Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care – Title of the book (italicized).
• (13th ed.). – Edition of the book.
• Elsevier. – Publisher.

General Tips for Citing Nursing Textbooks in APA 7th Edition

1. Check the Title Page and Copyright Page: Always verify the correct title, edition, authors, editors, and publication year from the title page and copyright page of the textbook. Pay attention to any adaptation information.
2. Distinguish Between Authors and Editors: Be clear whether you are citing the chapter author(s) or the book editor(s). In some cases, they might be the same.
3. Use “In” for Chapter Citations: When citing a chapter, use “In” to indicate that the chapter is part of a larger book.
4. Include Edition and Page Numbers: For chapter citations, always include the page range of the chapter. For whole book citations, include the edition number if it’s not the first edition.
5. Publisher Information: Ensure you have the correct publisher name. Major publishers for nursing textbooks include Elsevier, Wolters Kluwer, and others.
6. Consistency: Maintain consistency in your citation style throughout your work. If you’re using APA 7th edition, ensure all citations adhere to these guidelines.
7. Digital Resources: If you are using an electronic version of the textbook, and the page numbers are different from the print version or not available, you can omit page numbers for the whole book citation. For chapter citations in e-books without page numbers, you might consider using paragraph numbers if available and relevant, though page numbers are generally preferred when available.

By following these examples and guidelines, you can accurately cite both general nursing textbooks and specific resources like Ackley and Ladwig’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook in APA 7th edition, ensuring academic integrity and proper attribution in your nursing writing.