Guidelines

The ORNAC Guidelines for Perioperative Practice in Canada serve as a reference and guide for perioperative nurses, health care facilities caring for surgical patients, professional associations, and other organizations involved in surgical services. These guidelines represent recommended practices based on the best available evidence to help perioperative nurses deliver optimal patient care in the perioperative setting. Considering the diverse practice areas and roles across the country, the ORNAC Guidelines are an important tool in the clinical decision-making process.

Purchasing Options

ORNAC Member Discount: ORNAC members will receive a ten percent (10%) discount on the purchase of one individual copy of the Guidelines. Use the discount code located on the landing page when you log into Your Member Profile. Discount is not applicable to multi-user licenses and bulk purchases.

ORNAC Approved Educational Program - Educator Discount: ORNAC-Approved Perioperative Program Educators will receive a ten percent (10%) discount on the purchase of one individual copy of the Guidelines. Please contact info@ornac.ca to obtain the discount code. Discount is not applicable to multi-user or bulk purchases and is not accepted in tandem with any other discount code.

Print Bulk Hard Copies: Format Bulk discounts are available to customers purchasing 25 or more hard copies of the Guidelines. Click Here to request a quote Inclusive of your Bulk Discount.

The ORNAC Guidelines are available for purchase through CSA Group. There are multiple purchasing options:

PDF

Purchases are available to view and download from CSA OnDemand™
CSA OnDemand™ provides online 24/7 access to your standards collection from any internet connection
CSA OnDemand™ provides a download option for offline viewing
CSA OnDemand™ provides customizable bookmarks, highlighting and notetaking tools
CSA OnDemand™ Quick User Guide (this is a guide for all CSA products-including the ORNAC 17th Ed)
Access Includes: 2 device downloads per PDF purchased
Access Includes: 2 enabled print options available per PDF purchased
Downloaded PDF documents must be opened using the desktop version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat

Hardcopy

Hard copy purchases will be delivered as requested within Canada (5-10 business days) or Internationally (contact us)
Purchase from CSA

E-Subscriptions

The ORNAC Guidelines' annual subscriptions are available as Standalone (ORNAC Standards only) or Bundled (ORNAC Standards + 9MDR Standards) for organizations, health authorities and educational institutions

Continuous 24/7 digital access to ORNAC's latest Guidelines and MDR Standards (CSA Z314:23)
IP-enabled access for your entire organization (pricing based on user base)
Subscription includes both English and French editions
Bundle Collection: ORNAC (17th edition) & MDR Standards (CSA Z314:23) - Annual Organizational Subscription

Revisions

Record of Changes (17^th Edition)

Updated title and new ORNAC branded cover
Standardized terminology throughout
Updated nursing textbooks and CSA Group references throughout
Placed an abridged table of contents in the front matter and full table of contents at the beginning of each section
Moved content on ORNAC from front matter to Section 1
Reviewed and revised Section 1, with new title
Reviewed, revised, and expanded Section 2 with new title
Updated and organized Section 2 heading titles for better flow
Reviewed, revised, and expanded Section 3
Added new content on gender-affirming care and surgical wound classification
Made major updates to surgical energy
Reviewed and revised Section 4’s content on construction/renovation
Reviewed and revised in Section 5, with significant content on infection prevention and control moved to Section 2
Removed Section 6
Placed definitions and abbreviations as separate stand-alone content
Assisted by subject matters experts on respirators and masks, infection prevention and control, and surgical energy / surgical plume

Historical Development

2025

New title Guidelines for Perioperative Practice in Canada and new ORNAC-branded cover. Abridged table of contents in the front matter and full table of contents at the beginning of each section. New content on gender-affirming care and surgical wound classification added. Subject matter experts assisted with respirators and masks, infection prevention and control, and surgical energy / surgical plume. Section 6 removed. Definitions and abbreviations are now separate stand-alone content. 2023: New content added on CNA competencies and portable electronic devices; A full table of contents added at the front together with. Record of changes since the 13th edition. Expert reviewers: Madeleine Ashcroft, an infection control practitioner; Kaylem Boileau, Cochair of the Canadian Pressure Injury Advisory Panel; and Sheila Early, President 2021-2023 Forensic Nurses Association
2021: ORNAC Standards, Guidelines and Position Statements for Perioperative Registered Nurses 15th Edition - May 2021 (English and French Versions)
Includes new in Section 5 Pandemic Planning
2019: ORNAC Standards, Guidelines and Position Statements for Perioperative Registered Nurses 14th Edition - October 2019 (English) January 2020 (French)
2017: ORNAC Standards, Guidelines and Position Statements for Perioperative Registered Nurses 13th Edition – April 2017 (English & French Versions)
2015: ORNAC Standards for Perioperative Registered Nursing Practice 12th Edition – April 2015 (English & French Versions)
2013: ORNAC Standards for Perioperative Registered Nursing Practice 11th Edition – April 2013 (English & French Versions)
30th anniversary edition with a special commemorative cover.
2003: Recommended Standards, Guidelines and Position Statements for Perioperative Nursing Practice Revision incorporated a major format change. This edition has been re-designed into modules.
The constant rapid change in healthcare requires a design that enables more consistent review/revision.
1998: Recommended Standards for Perioperative Nursing Practice 1998 edition reflected the movement towards ambulatory surgery.
1993: Recommended Standards for Perioperative Nursing Practice
The two documents were combined in a single issue and also included a chapter on competencies. That issue was used as a primary resource for the development of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification exam in Perioperative Nursing Practice.
1988: Recommended Technical Standards were published.
This was a significant milestone for a young organization. The body of knowledge required in the specialty was defined as required by the Canadian Nurses Association to meet the requirements of a certification process.
1986: Recommended Standards for Operating Room Nursing Practice
First Edition for ORNAC!
1983: ORNAC inaugurated