This information guide is for Austin staff who are writing or reviewing hospital policy or procedures.
For information on citing sources in university assignments, refer to your institution’s referencing guidelines.
For article submissions to journals, refer to the recommended referencing style outlined in the author guidelines or submission instructions provided by the publisher.
Please contact the Library for further support.
'A citation gives credit where credit is due.' (Handley, 2022)
The purpose of including references in a hospital policy or procedure is to:
ensure that policies, procedures and guidelines are based on the most current evidence available
enable the reader to find the document being referenced
acknowledge your research sources (and therefore avoid plagiarism)
For Austin Health policies, procedures or guidelines, Vancouver (AMA) or APA referencing can be used. Whichever you choose, it is important that the same citation style is consistently used throughout the document.
Most university websites provide comprehensive guides to the different citation styles and how to use them:
In-text citations
If you prefer to use in-text citations in your policy, then it is recommended that you use Vancouver. This style puts a number (1) within the text, directing the reader to the source in the reference list. APA style puts the author name and year (Murphy, 2021) within the text, making it harder for the reader to quickly scan the policy to find important information. You do not have to use in-text citations, and can instead just list your references at the Legislation/References/Supporting Documents section.
Your citation needs to include five key elements:
Title (what the document is called)
Author and/or publisher (who is responsible for creating the document)
Date of publication
A URL/hyperlink, or if not available online, information that helps the reader find it
For websites and some online documents, you should include the date of access or retrieval. This is important because the material is likely to change over time. You don't need to include this for documents with a static publication dates, e.g. books, legislation (Acts and Regulations), and journal articles.
Refer to citation style guides (linked above) for more information.
Using citation software such as Endnote can help you manage and correctly cite your references. The library provides training and support.
Handley, A. (2022). Everybody writes: your new and improved go-to guide to creating ridiculously good content (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Contact the Austin Health LibraryThe Library team will be unavailable Mon 3rd and Tue 4th November. The Library space remains open to all Austin and Mercy Heidelberg staff and students.
The Library space is available 24/7 to Austin Health and Mercy Heidelberg staff and students. Use your security card for access. Library staff are available Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm except Vic. public holidays.
