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APA Support for Nursing

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Organizations and Government Entities 

As in many citation styles, APA allows that a government entity or an organization can be the author of a work.  

No author? Are you sure?

  • First check the URL.  Is it .gov, .org or .edu?
  • Second, look at the ABOUT or Copyright statement.  Usually, this is at the bottom of the page.
  • Third, don't get confused with newsletters, newspapers, and blogs.  If it is a .com and you can't find any of these items, it may be that there is no author identified. That is a different style of citation.
  • Fourth, if it has multiple authors, volume, or issue numbers it may be a journal article. Look to see if it has publication date, DOI numbers, and a referrence list.  If so, look at the page more closely to see if it is identified as a journal or magazine. That is a different citation style. 

 

Example: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .gov

This article has no listed author. The page "How does lead get into my tap water?" is in a section called Lead. The URL is http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm.  It was last updated 2016 and likely to updated again.  If something in APA is likely to be updated, use a retrieval date.  

In-text Citation:

Quote
For lead poisoning, "risk will vary, however, depending on the individual" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016, para. 5).

Summary

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016) says call your water authority immediately If the water has levels of lead above 15 ppb (para. 5).

 

References:

References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, January). How does lead get into my tap water? Retrieved February 1, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm.

 

 

Example: March of Dimes  .org

This article has no author. It also has a video. You are using a section from the pagePregnancy.  There is a 2016 copyright notice at the bottom of the page.  This page is not an article or a page from a book so it is subject to be changed so use the retreival date. The URL is http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/before-pregnancy.aspx

 

In-text Citation:

Quote
To minimize pregnancy risk "the best think you can do for your baby is plan ahead.  (March of Dimes,  2016, para. 1) 

 

Summary

The March of Dimes advocates (2016)  "get to a healthy weight, take folic acid to help prevent birth defects (para. 2).

 

References:

References March of Dimes. (2016). Before or between pregnancies. Retrieved February 1, 2016 from http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/before-pregnancy.aspx