How to Use this Document
This nursing best practice guideline is a comprehensive document providing
resources necessary for the support of evidence-based nursing practice. The document
needs to be reviewed and applied, based on the specific needs of the organization or
practice setting/environment, as well as the needs and wishes of the client. Guidelines
should not be applied in a “cookbook” fashion but used as a tool to assist in decision
making for individualized client care, as well as ensuring that appropriate structures and
supports are in place to provide the best possible care.
Nurses, other healthcare professionals and administrators who are leading and facilitating
practice changes will find this document valuable for the development of policies,
procedures, protocols, educational programs, assessments and documentation tools. It is
recommended that the nursing best practice guidelines be used as a resource tool. Nurses
providing direct client care will benefit from reviewing the recommendations, the evidence
in support of the recommendations and the process that was used to develop the guidelines.
However, it is highly recommended that practice settings/environments adapt these
guidelines in formats that would be user-friendly for daily use. This guideline has some
suggested formats for such local adaptation and tailoring.
Organizations wishing to use the guideline may decide to do so in a number of ways:
Assess current nursing and healthcare practices using the recommendations in the
guideline.
Identify recommendations that will address identified needs or gaps in services.
Systematically develop a plan to implement the recommendations using associated
tools and resources.