Evaluating best practice guidelines.

Clinical practice guidelines are developed with the purpose of improving patient care. The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) Nursing Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) Project was implemented in 1999. It has resulted in the development, implementation and evaluation of 17 BPGs with agencies in different healthcare sectors. This article describes the process, challenges and lessons learned by the team responsible for evaluating the BPGs.