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How to Cite the Nutrition Care Manual Correctly

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4 min read

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, proper citation is crucial for maintaining academic and clinical integrity. For students and practitioners in the field, knowing how to cite the Nutrition Care Manual (NCM) correctly is an essential skill to acknowledge the authoritative, evidence-based content that informs patient care and research. This comprehensive guide provides clear, formatted examples for the most common citation styles.

Quick Summary

Guide to proper citation of the Nutrition Care Manual. Includes formatted examples for APA and AMA styles. Explains how to reference specific sections or the entire resource. Breaks down the required components and provides clear instructions for different academic and clinical contexts.

Key Points

  • Identify Core Elements: Always gather the author (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics), manual name (Nutrition Care Manual®), specific topic title, URL, and accessed date before citing.

  • Adapt to APA Style: For APA, use the format: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (n.d.). Manual Name: Topic Title. Retrieved Date, from URL.

  • Adhere to AMA Style: In AMA, use a numeric system: #. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Manual Name. Topic Title. URL. Accessed Date.

  • Include Accessed Date: Because the NCM is a living online resource, the 'accessed date' is a mandatory component for traceability in most styles.

  • Handle Special Cases: Adapt your citation for downloaded PDF handouts or when referring to the manual as a whole, following the specific rules of your required style guide.

  • Maintain Consistency: Whatever style you use, ensure consistency throughout your document to uphold academic and clinical integrity.

In This Article

Understanding the Core Components of an NCM Citation

Before diving into specific styles, it is helpful to recognize the key pieces of information needed for any Nutrition Care Manual (NCM) reference. The NCM is an online, dynamic resource, so your citation must reflect that it was accessed at a specific point in time.

Mandatory information includes:

  • Authoring Organization: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly American Dietetic Association).
  • Manual Name: Nutrition Care Manual® (or the specific version like Pediatric Nutrition Care Manual®).
  • Specific Page or Topic: The title of the particular section or disease process you are referencing.
  • URL: The direct, stable URL for the specific page you accessed.
  • Accessed Date: The full date you visited the site.

With these components, you can construct a proper citation in almost any format required for your academic paper or professional report.

Citing the NCM in APA Style (7th Edition)

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is widely used in health sciences. For citing a specific page or section from the online Nutrition Care Manual, follow these steps.

General Format for a Specific Page

  • Reference list entry: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (year of publication). Nutrition Care Manual®: Page/Topic Title. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from [URL].
  • Note on publication year: The NCM is a continuously updated resource without a standard publication year. If no year is available, use (n.d.) for 'no date'.
  • In-text citation: (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, n.d.)

Example:

Citing the NCM in AMA Style (11th Edition)

The American Medical Association (AMA) style is often preferred in clinical settings and medical journals. AMA relies on a numbered citation system, listing references in the order they appear in the text.

General Format for a Specific Page

  • Reference list entry: 1. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Nutrition Care Manual®. [Name of Page]. [URL for specific page]. Accessed Month Day, Year.
  • In-text citation: Place a superscript number (e.g., ¹) at the end of the sentence referencing the information.

Example:

Comparison of APA and AMA NCM Citation Styles

To highlight the differences, here is a comparative table for citing the same specific NCM page.

Aspect APA Style (7th Edition) AMA Style (11th Edition)
Reference List Order Alphabetical by author (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). Numeric, in order of appearance in the text.
In-text Citation (Authoring Organization, Year). Ex: (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, n.d.). Superscript number corresponding to reference list. Ex: ¹.
Date Handling Includes a retrieved date. The publication year is (n.d.). Includes an accessed date at the end of the entry.
Punctuation Uses a period after the organization, title, and URL. Italicizes the manual name and page title. Uses periods after major components. Italicizes the manual name but not the page title.
Purpose Common in academic papers, theses, and dissertations. Standard for medical journals, clinical reports, and research.

Citing a PDF Handout from the NCM

In some cases, you may download a client education handout as a PDF. Citing this requires a slightly different approach as you are referencing a static document, though it is still an online source. The format should be adapted to the specific style guide, but generally includes the author, date, title, and access information.

APA Example for a PDF:

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (n.d.). Constipation: Client education. In Nutrition Care Manual®. Retrieved from [URL of the PDF or source page].

AMA Example for a PDF:

    1. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Nutrition Care Manual®. Constipation: Client education. [URL of PDF]. Accessed October 10, 2025.

Referencing the Manual as a Whole

When referencing the Nutrition Care Manual in a general sense, without citing a specific page, your citation will differ. This is less common but necessary when discussing the resource itself.

APA Example for the entire manual:

AMA Example for the entire manual:

Conclusion: Ensuring Accuracy and Integrity

Accurate citation of the Nutrition Care Manual is a cornerstone of ethical and credible work in dietetics and nutrition science. The dynamic, online nature of the NCM means that each citation must contain key information, including the accessed date, to ensure the reference is traceable. By following the specific conventions of style guides like APA and AMA, you can effectively incorporate this vital resource into your academic and clinical writing. For the most up-to-date NCM citation guidelines from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, always check their official resource page or a current style manual. Practicing meticulous citation demonstrates respect for the research that underpins the manual and contributes to the overall integrity of your profession. Proper citation is not merely a formality but a foundational element of professional competence.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Nutrition Care Manual is authored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This is the organization that should be listed as the author in most citation styles.

For styles like APA that require a publication year, use '(n.d.)' which stands for 'no date'. This indicates that the source is continuously updated and does not have a static publication year.

Yes, including the accessed date is crucial. The NCM is a dynamic online resource that is frequently updated, so specifying when you accessed the information ensures that readers can track the exact content you were referencing.

You should cite the handout as a section of the larger Nutrition Care Manual, including the handout's specific title. For APA, you would include 'In Nutrition Care Manual®' in the title field. For AMA, list the handout title and URL.

The citation for the NCM should appear in your reference list or bibliography at the end of your paper. In the main body, you will use an in-text citation (e.g., parenthetical in APA, superscript number in AMA) to link the information back to the full reference.

For proper academic and clinical writing, it is best to write out the full name (Nutrition Care Manual) on the first mention and include the abbreviation (NCM) in parentheses. For subsequent mentions, you can use the abbreviation.

No, you should not cite the NCM's reference list as your source. The NCM serves as a summary of evidence, so you should track down and cite the original primary source research whenever possible for the highest level of scholarly rigor.

Related Topics:

#Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics #academic writing #Nutrition Care Manual #citations #APA style #AMA style #dietetics research #referencing guidelines

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice.