Other Titles

RNAO Best Practice Guideline

Abstract

RNAO’s BPGs are systematically developed, evidence-based documents that include recommendations on specific clinical, healthy work environment and health system topics. They are intended for nurses, other members of the interprofessional team in direct care positions, educators, administrators and executives, policymakers and researchers in health and social service organizations and academic institutions. BPGs promote consistency, cultural humility and excellence in clinical care, administrative policies, procedures and education, with the aim of achieving optimal health outcomes for people, communities, and the health system. RNAO aims to meet international reporting standards for clinical practice guidelines, including the standards outlined in the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) Instrument and the Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in HealThcare (RIGHT) statement (35,36).

Healthy work environments are practice settings that (a) maximize the health and well-being of nurses and other health workers and (b) improve organizational performance and patient, client, resident and societal outcomes. They comprise numerous components, including: physical, structural and policy components; professional and occupational components; and cognitive, psychological, sociological, and cultural components (37). These components, and the relationships among them, make them complex and multidimensional. Because it is the combination of factors and components that determines the nature of the work environment and influences individual experience, interventions to promote healthy work environments must target multiple levels and components of the system – and, indeed, the system itself (38).

The purpose of this healthy work environment guideline is to address anti-Black racism in nursing and improve inclusivity and retention of Black nurses and Black nursing students in health and social service organizations and academic institutions. This BPG highlights the harmful history of marginalization and discrimination experienced by Black nurses and Black nursing students, illuminating the impact of systemic racism in the nursing profession. Advocacy and collaboration focused on eradicating anti-Black racism and racism more broadly are essential to achieving equity and transformative change in nursing.

Notes

Originally published February 2026

Author Details

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve.

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Best Practice Guideline

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Systematic Review

Research Approach

Mixed/Multi Method Research

Keywords:

Racism, Nursing Practice, Work Environment, Healthy Work Environment

Identifier Type

ISBN

Publisher

Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

Version

Publisher's Version

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Professionally Edited Material

Acquisition

Publisher-submission

Date of Issue

2026-03-24

Funder(s)

Government of Ontario

Full Text of Presentation

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