TORONTO, Nov. 3, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is excited to recognize the Medical University of Gdańsk (GUMed) as the first organization in Poland to join its global Best Practice Spotlight Organization^® (BPSO^®) Program. RNAO representatives will lead in-person full day training sessions at the university from Nov. 3-7 to assist in launching Poland's three-year BPSO designation journey.

The five-day program will begin with a signing ceremony on Nov. 3 to celebrate the start of the collaboration between the two organizations. As an academic BPSO, the university will work towards incorporating RNAO's best practice guidelines (BPG) into curriculum design, teaching and learning, with a focus on transitions in care and services, people-centred care, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure injuries.

"We are delighted to work with GUMed to advance evidence-based education in Poland," says Dr. Doris Grinspun, RNAO's chief executive officer and founder of the BPG and BPSO programs. "Nursing knowledge begins in the classroom, and academic BPSOs play a central role in equipping nursing students with evidence-informed learnings to feel confident in the care they'll provide once they join the workforce. We look forward to working with the university as it enhances student leadership and builds strong clinical and academic partnerships using RNAO's guidelines. As the first in Poland, GUMed is pioneering this gold standard program to later on spread their experience and expertise across Poland."

"Joining RNAO's BPSO Program is an important step in strengthening our role as an institution that shapes the future of nursing," says Dr. Anna Michalik, GUMed assistant professor, deputy dean of faculty of health science and head of Institute of Nursing and Midwifery. "We see this partnership as an opportunity to foster a culture of shared responsibility, professional leadership and continuous learning, bringing together educators, students and clinical practitioners around a common goal: improving the quality and safety of patient care. By investing in the development of evidence-based practice, we aim to empower nurses to become agents of change and contribute to meaningful, lasting improvements across the health-care system."

GUMed joins more than 1,500 BPSOs across 20 countries leading evidence-based practice to optimize health outcomes. GUMed is one of 24 academic BPSOs across 12 countries that is integrating BPGs into curriculums to improve organizational and patient outcomes. These organizations use world-recognized academic indicators to monitor and evaluate their progress throughout the designation period.

"We believe that the best available scientific evidence should guide both nursing education and everyday clinical practice," says Dr. Dorota Kilańska, associate professor, GUMed, BPSO lead. "As an academic BPSO, our ambition is to bridge the gap between research, education and patient care, preparing future nurses to apply evidence-based guidelines, measure patient outcomes and contribute to continuous quality improvement. We want to educate professionals who not only deliver high-quality care but also understand its impact, demonstrate its value and help shape better health-care systems."

WHAT: RNAO launches the first BPSO in Poland at the Medical University of Gdańsk (GUMed) with a signing ceremony, orientation and training sessions.

WHO:

• Her Excellency Emmanuelle Lamoureux, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Poland (invited to closing ceremony)

Attending opening ceremonies and delivering the training:

• Janet Chee, associate director guideline implementation & knowledge transfer, RNAO
• Dr. Julia Fineczko, associate director, Long-Term Care Best Practices Program, RNAO
• Dr. Dorota Kilanska, BPSO lead, associate professor, acting head of the division of coordinated care, Medical University of Gdańsk
• Karolina Narloch, BPSO co-lead, teaching assistant, division of coordinated care, Medical University of Gdańsk
• Prof. Michał Markuszewski, rector, Medical University of Gdańsk
• Prof. Przemysław Rutowski, dean faculty of health sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk
• Dr. Katarzyna Kretowicz, chair of the Regional Chamber of Nurses and Midwives in Gdańsk
• Dr. Anna Lignowska, deputy chief Executive director for nursing, university chief nursing officer 
• Andrzej Tytul, vice- president of the Main Chamber of Nurses and Midwives of Poland
• Representatives from city of Gdańsk
• Representatives from Pomeranian Regional Branch of the National Health Fund, the Pomeranian Hospitals and from University Clinical Centre

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 3 - Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026

WHERE: Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland

RNAO's Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) Program is funded by Ontario's Ministry of Health. It was envisioned by CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun in 1998 and launched in 1999 to provide the best available evidence for patient care across all health sectors and settings, with more than 50 guidelines developed to date. The Best Practice Spotlight Organization^® (BPSO^®) program supports service and academic institutions that have formally agreed to implement multiple RNAO BPGs over a three-year period, and evaluate their impact on patients, organizations and health systems. Launched in 2003, the BPSO program now has more than 1,500 BPSOs in Ontario, Canada and internationally. 

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public we serve. For more information about RNAO, visit RNAO.ca or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario