HSE Library: References & Citations: Vancouver

Vancouver referencing - general information

How citations are formatted in the main body of your work

In-text citation:

A number, either in brackets (1) or superscript¹directs to the full citation in your reference list. Either is acceptable, but be consistent.

This number is used any time the same source is cited in your work.

Reference list:

This will be a numbered list that match your in-text citation numbers.

Sources are listed in the order they appeared in the text and not alphabetically.

Little punctuation is used, e.g. author's name and initials are not separated by a comma and there is no full stop between initials.

Journal titles are generally abbreviated.

Vancouver format example: journal article

Lothet EH, Lacy AJ, Odom EB. The ten test and sensory evaluation of hand and finger injuries in the emergency department. J Emerg Med. 2025 Apr 1; 71:54-59.

Vancouver format example: books

Hampton JR. The ECG made easy. 8th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier: 2013.

Vancouver format example: online article

Cullen P. Irish scientists find link between obesity and immune system. The Irish Times [Internet]. 2015 May 26 [cited 28 May 2015].Available from: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/irish-scientists-find-link-between-obesity-and-immune-system-1.2225692.

Vancouver format example: reports

Ireland. Department of Health. National review cardiac services 2023 [Internet] Dublin: DoH; 2025 Apr [cited 2025 April 1]. 266 p. Available from: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/national-review-of-adult-specialist-cardiac-services-in-ireland.pdf

Vancouver format example: social media post

Health Service Executive. 'Hay fever affects around 20% of people. It can't be [...]': https://twitter.com/HSElive/status/631067665759629312 2015 August 11 [cited 2015 August 15] [Tweet]. Available from: @HSElive.

Vancouver format example: reference list

Lothet EH, Lacy AJ, Odom EB. The ten test and sensory evaluation of hand and finger injuries in the emergency department. J Emerg Med. 2025 Apr 1; 71:54-59.
Hampton JR. The ECG made easy. 8th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier: 2013.
Cullen P. Irish scientists find link between obesity and immune system. The Irish Times [Internet]. 2015 May 26 [cited 28 May 2015].Available from: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/irish-scientists-find-link-between-obesity-and-immune-system-1.2225692.
Ireland. Department of Health. National review cardiac services 2023 [Internet] Dublin: DoH; 2025 Apr [cited 2025 April 1]. 266 p. Available from: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/national-review-of-adult-specialist-cardiac-services-in-ireland.pdf

References & Citations: Vancouver