Help with APA format

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Specializes in L&D, Antepartum.

I have a question I can't seem to find the answer to. I have an article from California Nurse magazine, April 2006. I am reviewing the cover story article. My database sent me the APA format when I emailed it to myself but because it has no author it didn't look right. I looked and looked and there are no authors anywhere in the article. It just says Staff Report. The APA formatting looks like this:

Nursing Democracy. (Cover story). (2006). California Nurse, Retrieved Wednesday, August 23, 2006 from the Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition database.

It won't format the hanging indent but you get the idea. Do I just leave the author part out and leave it as the title of the article (Nursing Democracy) with the (Cover story) like that? Please help!

Thanks,

N

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Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

Do you have an APA Manual? I would look it up for you but mine is at work. If you do have the manual look up journal article no author and see how it is cited. Anybody have a manual they can look in for this person?

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From Pocket Guide to APA Style, page 84, "A Book With No Author Named":

When no author or editor is named, list the book by its title. When an editor is listed, begin with the editor's name.

Example:

United Press International stylebook: The authoritative handbook for writers, editors, and news directors (3rd ed.). (1992). Lincolnwood, IL: Nartional.

The preceding source is listed by its title, United Press International has each word capitalized because itis an organization. The edition number follows the title, in parentheses; notice the edition number above is not italicized and that the period follows the closing parentheses. With an authorless book, the year follows the title or edition number.

Swanton, M.J. (ed.). (1990). An Anglo-Saxon chronicle. Exeter, England: University of Exeter Press.

The APA guide only lists info for an authorless book, not a magazine article. Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I can't say that I've seen (cover story) listed like that before so hopefully others will write in.

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Specializes in L&D, Antepartum.

Thanks, I will list by the editor then. APA is SO confusing sometimes. This will be my "guinea pig" bibliography card. We'll see what grade I get on this one and if I do it right, I'll work on the others. Such a pain!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

You might want to preview it to the instructor who will be grading your paper. Here is a wizard that I've used but you do need to double check to make sure it works correctly.

http://www.stylewizard.com/apa5/apawiz.html

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Case Management, also OR/OB.

If you don't have the APA manual, I highly recommend getting the most recent version. They put out a new one every 2 years or so, so be sure you have the "latest" edition. Essential!!

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Specializes in med surg.

I have to tell you that when I was working on my BSN i purchased from http://www.referencepointsoftware.com the APA disk. Saved my time,headaches and points on paper.

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Hey Nyree-

I tried to email you earlier in the summer, but it came back to me. Email me at [email protected]

I wanted to see how first went! You must be in the earlier 203...somehow I ended up in the 2:30pm class.

One of my friends in my class had an article for the bib card that didn't have an author. She brought it in to Kerry and she went over it with her...if you would like, I can email her and verify what she said.

Wendy

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