Best Practice Guidelines

RNAO has more than 50 BPGs covering nine categories: children and youth; clinical; equity, diversity and inclusion; foundational; health system; healthy work environment; mental health and substance use; older adults; and population health.

The BPGs are freely available and organized alphabetically below.

October 2024

The purpose of this guideline is to provide nurses and members of the interprofessional team, persons at risk of or living with a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and their care partners with evidence-based recommendations on the prevention, assessment and management of DFUs. 

April 2007

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to promote a healthy work environment for nurses by identifying best practices for embracing diversity within health care organizations. 

September 2011

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to provide evidence-based recommendations for registered nurses and registered practical nurses on best nursing practices for end-of-life care during the last days and hours of life.

June 2016

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to strengthen collaborative practice among nurses, because effective collaborative practice is essential for working in health-care organizations.

September 2012

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to manage and mitigate interpersonal conflict among healthcare teams with the view that while some conflict is preventable, healthy conflict can also be beneficial.

May 2010

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to address the nursing assessment and management of stable, unstable and acute dyspnea associated with COPD.

May 2020

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to provide nurses, the interprofessional team and caregivers with evidence-based recommendations for the provision of oral care for adults (18 years of age and older) that will: 

• promote an interprofessional approach to providing oral care, 
• enhance the delivery of oral care interventions, and 
• ultimately lead to positive oral health outcomes for persons.

February 2025

The purpose of this fourth edition guideline is to provide nurses and the interprofessional team with evidence-based guidance for the prevention, assessment, and management of all types of pain across the lifespan.

March 2020

This best practice guideline (BPG) provides evidence-based recommendations to nurses and the interprofessional health team who support adults experiencing the last 12 months of a progressive life-limiting illness, and their families and caregivers. 

May 2016

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to provide evidence-based recommendations that promote and sustain the undergraduate nursing student’s application of knowledge to practice in a variety of clinical learning environments. The guideline explores the relationships among and between students and nursing educators, nursing staff, preceptors and diverse health-care team members, and it considers their influence on the quality of practice education, professional socialization and nursing excellence.