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How to Reference a Nursing Assignment: APA & Harvard Guide

Learn how to reference a nursing assignment in APA 7th and Harvard. Covers in-text citations, reference list templates, nursing-specific sources, worked examples, and common mistakes.

  • Nursing
  • Oct 3, 2026
  • Nursing Assignment Help

Most referencing marks are lost to carelessness, not difficulty. Students mix two styles in one reference list, cite sources they never read, leave in-text citations out of the reference list, or paste auto-generated references without checking them. Markers see these errors in the first minute, and referencing errors also feed directly into academic integrity concerns.

Referencing has one job: let the reader find every source you used and tell which ideas are yours and which are not. This guide covers APA 7th and Harvard side by side, with templates for the sources nursing students use most, worked examples, and the mistakes that cost the most marks.

Part 1: Foundations

1.1 Why Referencing Matters in Nursing

PurposePractical valueCreditSeparates your analysis from other people's workEvidence trailLets markers verify that your claims are supportedAcademic integrityMissing or false citations can be treated as misconductProfessional habitEvidence-based practice requires traceable sourcesMarksReferencing is usually a separate rubric criterion

1.2 Two Components, Not One

ComponentWhere it appearsFunctionIn-text citationIn the body, next to the claimPoints to the source brieflyReference listAt the end, on its own pageGives full details to locate the source

Every in-text citation needs a matching reference list entry, and every reference list entry needs at least one in-text citation. Check both directions before submitting.

1.3 Reference List vs. Bibliography

TermContainsReference listOnly sources cited in your textBibliographyCited sources plus sources read but not cited

Most nursing programs want a reference list. Check your brief.

1.4 Which Style Do You Use?

SituationActionYour program names a styleUse it, in the exact edition specifiedYour program gives its own guideThe guide overrides this article and the official manualsNo style specifiedAsk your tutor. Do not guess.

Important: "Harvard" is not one standardized style. Universities publish their own versions, and the most widely used UK guide is Cite Them Right. APA is more standardized, but your program may add local rules. When your institution's guide conflicts with anything below, follow your institution.

Part 2: APA 7th vs. Harvard at a Glance

FeatureAPA 7thHarvard (typical, e.g., Cite Them Right)In-text format(Smith, 2021)(Smith, 2021)Two authors in text(Smith & Jones, 2021)(Smith and Jones, 2021)Three or more authors in text(Smith et al., 2021)(Smith et al., 2021); threshold varies by institutionDirect quote page(Smith, 2021, p. 45)(Smith, 2021, p. 45)Reference list titleReferencesReference listAuthor initialsSmith, A. B.Smith, A.B.Year positionIn brackets after author, with full stopIn brackets after author, no full stopArticle titleSentence case, no quotation marksSentence case, in single quotation marksJournal titleTitle Case, italicTitle Case, italicBook titleSentence case, italicSentence case, italicPublisher placeNot includedOften included (Place: Publisher)Web sourcesURL, no access date (usually)"Available at: URL (Accessed: date)"DOI formathttps://doi.org/xxxxxdoi:xxxxx or https://doi.org/xxxxxLayoutHanging indent, alphabeticalAlphabetical; hanging indent common

Both styles order the reference list alphabetically by first author surname.

Part 3: In-Text Citations

3.1 APA 7th

SituationParentheticalNarrativeOne author(Smith, 2021)Smith (2021) found...Two authors(Smith & Jones, 2021)Smith and Jones (2021) found...Three or more authors(Smith et al., 2021)Smith et al. (2021) found...Group author(World Health Organization [WHO], 2020), then (WHO, 2020)The World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) states...No date(Smith, n.d.)Smith (n.d.)Direct quote(Smith, 2021, p. 45)Smith (2021) stated that "..." (p. 45)Multiple sources(Jones, 2019; Smith, 2021)Order alphabetically, separate with semicolonsSecondary source(Smith, 2010, as cited in Jones, 2021)List only Jones in references

3.2 Harvard (Cite Them Right Style)

SituationFormatOne author(Smith, 2021) or Smith (2021)Two authors(Smith and Jones, 2021)Three or more authors(Smith et al., 2021); some institutions use the threshold of fourOrganization(World Health Organization, 2020)No date(Smith, no date)Direct quote(Smith, 2021, p. 45)Multiple sources(Jones, 2019; Smith, 2021), usually chronological or alphabetical per your guideSecondary source(Smith, 2010, cited in Jones, 2021)Two works, same author and year(Smith, 2021a), (Smith, 2021b)

3.3 Quoting and Paraphrasing

ApproachRuleParaphraseDefault. Still needs a citation. Page number optional but useful.Short quote (under 40 words)Use quotation marks, include page numberLong quote (40 words or more, APA)Block quote, indented, no quotation marks, page number after final punctuationOver-quotingSignals weak analysis. Keep quotes rare.

Changing three words in a source sentence is not paraphrasing. It is patchwriting, and it counts as plagiarism.

3.4 What to Cite and What Not to

CiteDo not citeStatistics, figures, percentagesCommon knowledge (a nurse takes a pulse)Another author's ideas, models, or argumentsYour own argument or analysisPolicy and guideline requirementsWidely known facts with no specific claimDirect quotations

If you are unsure, cite.

Part 4: APA 7th Reference List Templates

Formatting rules for the list:

  • Heading "References," centered and bold, on a new page
  • Alphabetical by first author surname
  • Hanging indent of 0.5 inch
  • Double-spaced for student papers unless your program says otherwise
  • List up to 20 authors; use full names as surname plus initials

4.1 Common Source Types

SourceTemplateJournal articleAuthor, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article in sentence case. Journal Title in Title Case, volume(issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxxBookAuthor, A. A. (Year). Title of book in sentence case (Edition number ed.). Publisher.Chapter in edited bookAuthor, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.Web pageAuthor, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Website Name. URLOrganization report or guidelineOrganization Name. (Year). Title of report (Report No. if any). URLGovernment or policy documentDepartment or Agency. (Year). Title of document. URLConference paperAuthor, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of paper [Paper presentation]. Conference Name, Location. URLDissertationAuthor, A. A. (Year). Title [Doctoral dissertation, University]. Database. URLLecture slidesLecturer, A. A. (Year). Title of lecture [Lecture slides]. Course Name, University. URL

Notes: sentence case means only the first word, the first word after a colon, and proper nouns are capitalized. If there is no DOI, give the stable URL. Do not add "Retrieved from" unless the content changes over time.

4.2 Nursing-Specific Examples (APA)

SourceExampleProfessional codeNursing and Midwifery Council. (2018). The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/Book (reflective model)Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Further Education Unit.Journal article (format only)Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (2022). Title of article in sentence case. Journal of Nursing Practice, 18(2), 112–125. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx

The journal entry above is a format template, not a real source. Replace it with an article you have actually read.

Part 5: Harvard Reference List Templates (Cite Them Right Style)

Formatting rules for the list:

  • Heading "Reference list"
  • Alphabetical by first author surname
  • Article titles in single quotation marks
  • Book and report titles in italics
  • Online sources include "Available at:" and an access date
  • Use the date format your guide specifies; the access date below uses day, month, year

5.1 Common Source Types

SourceTemplateJournal articleAuthor, A.A. and Author, B.B. (Year) 'Title of article in sentence case', Journal Title, volume(issue), pp. xx–xx. doi:xxxxx or https://doi.org/xxxxxBookAuthor, A.A. (Year) Title of book. Edition (if not first). Place of publication: Publisher.Chapter in edited bookAuthor, A.A. (Year) 'Title of chapter', in Editor, E.E. (ed.) Title of book. Place: Publisher, pp. xx–xx.Web pageAuthor or Organisation (Year) Title of page. Available at: URL (Accessed: day month year).Organization report or guidelineOrganisation (Year) Title of report. Place: Publisher. Available at: URL (Accessed: day month year).Government documentDepartment (Year) Title of document. Available at: URL (Accessed: day month year).DissertationAuthor, A.A. (Year) Title. Level of dissertation. University.Lecture slidesLecturer, A.A. (Year) 'Title of lecture'. Module code. University. Available at: URL (Accessed: day month year).

5.2 Nursing-Specific Examples (Harvard)

SourceExampleProfessional codeNursing and Midwifery Council (2018) The Code: professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/ (Accessed: 3 October 2026).Book (reflective model)Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by doing: a guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford: Further Education Unit.Journal article (format only)Author, A.A. and Author, B.B. (2022) 'Title of article in sentence case', Journal of Nursing Practice, 18(2), pp. 112–125. doi:10.xxxx/xxxxx

Verify publisher details against your library catalogue before submitting. Small details such as publisher place vary between records.

Part 6: Nursing-Specific Referencing Issues

6.1 Sources You Will Meet Often

SourceGuidanceClinical guidelines (NICE, SIGN, national bodies)Cite as organization reports with the current version and dateProfessional codes (NMC Code, ANA Code of Ethics)Cite the specific edition; quote section numbers if you rely on onePolicy documentsCite the issuing department and yearLecture slidesAllowed by some programs, discouraged by many. Prefer the original source the lecturer cites.TextbooksAcceptable for definitions and background, weak for evidence of effectivenessCochrane reviewsCite as journal articles with the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews as the journal

6.2 Local Policies and Patient Documents

IssueRulePatient records, charts, care plansNever cite or reproduce them. This breaches confidentiality.Hospital or trust policyDescribe it generically ("local escalation policy") and ask your program how to reference it, because a full reference may identify the placement sitePlacement documentsDo not include identifying names, wards, or trust names

6.3 Using AI Tools

RuleDetailCheck your institution's policy firstSome ban AI use, some allow limited use with disclosureAI is not an evidence sourceDo not cite a chatbot as support for a clinical or research claimAI-generated references are often inventedVerify every reference independently in a databaseIf disclosure is requiredFollow your institution's wording; APA and Harvard both publish formats for citing AI tools, but these are for disclosure, not evidence

Part 7: Worked Example

7.1 The Same Paragraph in Both Styles

The sources in these paragraphs are placeholders to show formatting.

StyleParagraphAPAHesitation to escalate a deteriorating patient is a recognized risk among junior staff (Author & Author, 2022). Professional standards require nurses to act without delay on concerns about patient safety (Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC], 2018). Gibbs (1988) provides a structure for examining such events, and later work has added...HarvardHesitation to escalate a deteriorating patient is a recognized risk among junior staff (Author and Author, 2022). Professional standards require nurses to act without delay on concerns about patient safety (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2018). Gibbs (1988) provides a structure for examining such events, and later work has added...

7.2 The Matching Reference Lists

APA:

References

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (2022). Title of article in sentence case. Journal of Nursing Practice, 18(2), 112–125. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx

Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Further Education Unit.

Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2018). The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/

Harvard:

Reference list

Author, A.A. and Author, B.B. (2022) 'Title of article in sentence case', Journal of Nursing Practice, 18(2), pp. 112–125. doi:10.xxxx/xxxxx

Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by doing: a guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford: Further Education Unit.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) The Code: professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/ (Accessed: 3 October 2026).

7.3 What to Notice

FeatureDetailAlphabetical orderAuthor, Gibbs, Nursing and Midwifery CouncilOrganization as authorSpelled out in full in the list; abbreviation introduced in APA in-text onlyOne-to-one matchThree citations in the text, three entries in the listConsistent styleNo APA elements in the Harvard list, and the reverse

Part 8: Building Your Reference List Efficiently

8.1 Workflow

StageActionWhile researchingSave full details of every source immediately: authors, year, title, journal, volume, issue, pages, DOI or URLWhile draftingAdd the citation as you write the sentence, not afterwardWhile editingCross-check text citations against the listBefore submittingVerify each source exists and supports the claim made

8.2 Reference Managers

ToolNotesZoteroFree, widely used, captures references from databasesMendeleyFree, includes PDF annotationEndNoteOften provided by universities

8.3 Warnings About Automatic Citations

RiskFixGoogle Scholar and database "cite" buttons produce errorsCompare against the style rules aboveReference managers import wrong capitalizationCorrect to sentence case for article and book titlesMissing DOIs or incorrect author initialsCheck against the publisher's pageStyle versions differSelect the exact style and edition your program names

Auto-generated references are a draft, not a finished product. You are responsible for the final accuracy.

Part 9: Common Mistakes and Fixes

#MistakeFix1Mixing APA and Harvard in one assignmentChoose one and apply it throughout2In-text citation missing from the reference listCross-check both directions3Reference list entry never cited in the textRemove it, or cite it, or move to a bibliography if allowed4Wrong capitalization of titlesSentence case for articles and books; Title Case for journals5Citing a source you never readCite only what you read; use secondary citation when needed6Overusing secondary citationsFind and read the original where possible7Fabricated or unverified referencesCheck each in a database or the publisher page8No page number on a direct quoteAdd the page or paragraph number9Unordered reference listSort alphabetically by first author surname10Inconsistent use of "and" and "&"APA uses & in parentheses and in the list; Harvard uses "and"11Citing outdated sources without reasonUse recent sources unless a seminal work is justified12Including patient data or identifying policy detailsAnonymize and ask your program for guidance13Citing the same source repeatedly for every sentenceCite once per idea; use narrative citation to show source flow14Formatting hanging indents by hand with spacesUse the paragraph formatting setting in your word processor15Ignoring the program's own guideThe local guide wins

Part 10: Final Checklist

AreaCheckStyleOne style, the right edition, applied consistentlyIn-text citationsEvery claim and statistic citedMatchingEvery citation appears in the list, and every list entry is citedOrderReference list is alphabeticalFormattingHanging indent, capitalization, italics, punctuation correctQuotationsShort, in quotation marks, with page numbersVerificationEach reference exists and supports what you saidSecondary sourcesMarked correctly and kept to a minimumConfidentialityNo patient data, no identifying policy or site detailsAI usePolicy followed; no invented referencesRubricReferencing criteria addressed

Part 11: Bottom Line

Referencing is a mechanical skill with strict rules. Pick the style your program requires, build your list as you research instead of at the end, verify every reference exists, and check the text against the list in both directions. Treat reference managers and auto-generated citations as drafts.

If your reference list could not be checked by someone with only the list and a library database, rewrite it.

Your program's referencing guide, edition, and academic integrity policy override any general advice here, including this guide.