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 2018

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to present evidence-based recommendations for nurses and the interprofessional team across all care settings to enhance the quality of their practices to support the reduced incidence of perinatal depression through the implementation of five components of care: routine screening, assessment, prevention, coordinated interventions, and evaluation.

December 2017

The purpose of this best practice guideline is to focus on how nurses and the interprofessional team can provide effective trauma-informed crisis interventions (immediately and to up to four weeks post-crisis) in adults (18 years and older) in order to optimize evidence-based practices and clinical outcomes. The guideline is applicable in all practice settings and promotes consistent, evidence-based response and care. 

March 2015

The purpose of this best practice guideline is to provide nurses and the interprofessional team across all care settings with evidence-based recommendations related to assessment and interventions for individuals aged 11 years and older who use substances and may be at risk for or experiencing a substance use disorder. 

March 2006

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to address the therapeutic relationship and its central importance to nursing practice. Effective nursing practice is dependent on an effective therapeutic relationship between the nurse and the client. The guideline addresses the qualities and capacities of an effective therapeutic relationship, the state of knowledge, and the knowledge needed to be effective in a therapeutic relationship. 

September 2012

The aim of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to provide evidence-based recommendations for Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses and other health-care providers to facilitate client-centred learning that promotes and enables clients to take action for their health. 

June 2017

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to provide best practices for tobacco interventions for nurses and other health-care providers across all care settings, with evidence-based recommendations related to assessment and interventions for adults who use tobacco.

May 2015

This guideline promotes evidence-based practices to help nurses and members of their interdisciplinary teams become more adept at practising person- and family-centred care. This evidence-based approach, combined with a perspective that recognizes the place of the person at the centre of health care, will improve individuals’ experience of and satisfaction with the care and services provided within the health system. 

June 2022

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to provide nurses and the circle of care with evidence-based recommendations on culturally safe and meaningful ways to support smoking reduction and cessation with Indigenous Peoples of reproductive age, their support networks and communities to improve health and wellness.

June 2023

The purpose of this best practice guideline (BPG) is to provide evidence-based recommendations for nurses and members of the interprofessional team, organizations and the health system. These recommendations support safe and effective transitions in care for pediatric and adult persons and their support network.

May 2012

The overall purpose of this guideline is to facilitate routine universal screening for woman abuse by nurses in all practice settings.