Perioperative Nursing and ORNAC Standards, Guidelines and Position Statements
(Often referred to as “The ORNAC Standards”)
ORNAC biennially produces a large document consisting of guidelines that are systematically derived from research that help practitioners make decisions about care in specific clinical circumstances. They enhance critical thinking, promote excellence, standardize perioperative nursing care, raise the quality of care, and assist in reducing risk to patients. They are updated biennially to review, evaluate, and incorporate the latest evidence-based literature into the document. The entire document is peer-reviewed prior to publication.
We have the College of Nurses of Ontario, why do we need OR guidelines?
What is the difference between these and regulatory body standards (I.e., College of Nurses of Ontario standards of practice)?
- Your college standards dictate your scope of practice (Nursing Act, 1991) and are the minimum expectation of a nurse who has just graduated and received their credentials.
- Guidelines to practice are evidence-based, and dynamic and inform nurses at all levels on what is best for the patient they are caring for at this time.
- The guideline information changes as research and evidence change, which is why they are reviewed every two years!
- New research results that affect practice are incorporated as soon as possible.
ORNAC standards are produced at a national level
The ORNAC Standards are produced at the national level and describe general best practices for perioperative nurses, they do not describe regulated practices.
The ORNAC Standards are sold through the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) via the ORNAC website. Other important examples of guidelines describing what the evidence states as best practices at that time are the Accreditation Canada Guidelines, and RNAO-BP Guidelines which you may be familiar with.
