Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada

Standards

The ORNAC Standards, Guidelines, and Position Statements for Registered Nurses 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 standards 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 Standards are an important tool in the clinical decision-making process.

Purchasing Options

ORNAC Member Discount: ORNAC members will receive a ten percent (10%) discount which may be applied to the individual sale of the Standards through the use of a discount code located on the landing page when you log into Your Member Profile. Discount is not applicable to multi-user licenses or bulk purchases.

ORNAC Approved Educational Program - Educator Discount: ORNAC Approved Perioperative Program Educators will receive a ten (10%) discount which may be applied to the individual sale of the standards by utilizing the applicable discount code. Please contact for access to the discount code. Discount is not applicable to multi-user or bulk purchases, and 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 standard. Click Here to request a quote Inclusive of your Bulk Discount.

ORNAC Standards are available for purchase through CSA. There are mutliple purchasing options:

PDF

  • Purchases are available to view and download from CSA OnDemand™
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  • CSA OnDemand™ Quick User Guide (this is a guide for all CSA products-including the ORNAC 16th 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

ORNAC Standards annual subscriptions are available as Standalone (ORNAC Standards only) or Bundled (ORNAC Standards + 9MDR Standards) for Organizations, Health Authorities and Educational Institutions

Revisions

Record of Changes (16th Edition)

  • Reviewed, revised and expanded Section 1
  • Reviewed, revised and expanded Section 3
  • Reviewed, revised and expanded Section 4
  • Reviewed, revised and expanded Section 5
  • New content added on CNA competencies reviewed, revised and expanded Section 1 and portable electronic devices
  • 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
  • The flow of information improved; references moved to the end of each major heading and additional resources removed
  • A full table of contents added at the front together with. Record of changes since the 13th edition
  • Enhanced figures and tables
  • Levels of Evidence (LOE) included for all references
  • American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition referencing

Historical Development

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