The Royal College of Nursing digital rectal examination (DRE) document has been revised and updated to incorporate the most recent best practice in bowel care. It is hoped that this document will prove to be as popular as the previous editions, enabling more nurses to learn the skills necessary to be competent to carry out evidenced-based bowel care, including DRE. This article covers how the document can be used in all healthcare settings, the legal and professional implications of this type of examination, the importance of assessment and the significance of training.