Citing sources correctly is crucial in academic nursing and healthcare writing. Following the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition guidelines ensures clarity and credibility in your work. This guide provides examples of how to cite a specific type of nursing textbook: a Canadian edition adapted from an original American publication, similar to the Physical Examination & Health Assessment textbook. Understanding these formats can be helpful when citing resources like the Ackley Nursing Diagnosis Handbook or other adapted nursing texts in your scholarly work.
Let’s break down citation formats using examples from the Physical Examination & Health Assessment textbook, which was originally an American publication (Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 9th ed.) by Jarvis and Eckhardt, and adapted for a Canadian context (Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 4th Cdn. ed.) by Browne, MacDonald-Jenkins, and Luctkar-Flude.
When citing a chapter within an edited book with both American and Canadian editors, you need to acknowledge both the original authors/editors and the adapting editors. Here are examples for both the 3rd and 4th Canadian editions:
For a chapter in the 3rd Canadian edition:
Jarvis, C. (2019). The interview (A. J. Browne, Cdn. Adapt.). In C. Jarvis (Ed.), & A. J. Browne, J. MacDonald-Jenkins, & M. Luctkar-Flude (Cdn. Eds.), Physical examination and health assessment (3rd Cdn. ed., pp. 46-61). Elsevier.
Notice how this citation includes the original author (Jarvis), indicates the Canadian adaptation, lists the original editor(s) and the Canadian editors, and specifies the edition and page numbers.
For a chapter in the 4th Canadian edition:
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.
This example follows the same structure but includes Eckhardt as a co-editor for the original American text and reflects the updated 4th Canadian edition details.
If you need to cite the entire 4th Canadian edition book, the format is slightly different, focusing on the editors of both versions:
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.
In this whole book citation, we list Jarvis and Eckhardt as the original editors and then Browne, MacDonald-Jenkins, and Luctkar-Flude as the Canadian editors, followed by the book title, edition, and publisher.
Remember, when creating APA citations for nursing textbooks, handbooks, or other resources, always prioritize accuracy and completeness. Pay close attention to the roles of authors and editors, the edition, and the specific part of the book you are referencing (chapter or whole book). This ensures your citations are both correct and helpful for your readers to locate your sources.
