The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) provides a variety of resources to help nurses and employers understand and apply CNO’s standards and guidelines in their day-to-day practice.
We also offer Practice Support services to help nurses with specific practice-related questions.
To learn more about our self-directed tools and resources, select any item from the list you see here.
Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Practice
CNO recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) is part of current nursing practice and the AI landscape is rapidly evolving. This page is intended to help nurses understand what AI is, how it can be used to support their practice and what they need to keep in mind when integrating it into their practice.
Certifying Death
Learn more about how and when RNs and NPs can certify death.
Forms of Energy
Applying or ordering the application of a form of energy is a controlled act listed under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). Find out what procedures this includes and nurses’ authority to apply them.
Harm Reduction
CNO recognizes and acknowledges the devastating impact of the opioid crisis. Learn more about harm reduction strategies that nurses can use to reduce adverse health, social and economic consequences of legal and illegal psychoactive drugs.
Infection Prevention and Control
Ensuring the use of safe, effective and ethical infection prevention and control measures is an important component of nursing care. Nurses are expected to be aware of applicable CNO standards, relevant legislation, best practices and organizational policies related to infection.
Webcasts & Learning Modules
CNO offers a series of online resources designed to help nurses understand and apply regulatory learning content about practice standards and other relevant practice resources. Learning modules are self-directed and webcasts are on-demand videos that provide overviews and highlight changes to practice standards and guidelines.
Medication Decision Tool
This tool is designed to help you apply the Medication practice standard. The practice standard is principle-based, which means that it uses broad statements. You will need to use critical inquiry and your knowledge, skill and judgment when making decisions about medication practices.
Mental Health Resources for Nurses
CNO recognizes the emotional toll that nurses’ roles in health care can take. If you’re an Ontario nurse struggling with your mental health, visit this page for resources that can help.
Nursing Assessments
Assessing patients is part of a nurse’s professional practice to keep patients safe and improve their health outcomes. The Nursing Act, 1991 includes the accountability of assessing patients in the nursing scope of practice statement.
Pandemic Planning
Learn about a nurse’s role during a pandemic and how to practice safely in a public health crisis.
Understanding Restraints
Nurses are accountable for providing, facilitating, advocating and promoting the best possible patient care and to take action when patient safety and well-being are compromised, including when deciding to apply restraints. These are key accountabilities outlined in the Code of Conduct.