Vancouver
Vancouver Citation Guide for Canadian Nursing and Medical Students
Vancouver numbers references sequentially with superscript or bracketed numbers. The reference list is in citation order with abbreviated journal titles per the NLM Catalog. Author names use last name first with initials, listing up to six authors before switching to 'et al.'.
Vancouver is the standard in Canadian medical, nursing, and most allied-health programs. The numbering must stay synchronized with the reference list - use a citation manager.
In-text
Pain assessment frameworks have evolved (3,4) ...
Reference list
3. Tremblay J, Singh R, Lee K. Pain assessment in post-operative care. Can J Nurs Res. 2024;56(3):301-318. doi:10.1177/08445621241234567
Quick rules
- 1.Numbers appear in superscript or square brackets in text.
- 2.Reference list is in citation order, not alphabetical.
- 3.Up to six authors listed; et al. for seven or more.
- 4.Journal titles abbreviated per the NLM Catalog.
- 5.Include PMID/PMCID when available - especially in PubMed Central programs.
FAQ
Do I include the URL in a Vancouver citation?
Only for online-only sources. For journal articles with a DOI, the DOI replaces the URL.