Levels of Evidence in Nursing Research & AORN's Evidence Model

Evidence rating is a process by which scientific evidence is used to support recommendations about clinical decisions. Evidence rating has become an expectation of multidisciplinary health care organizations.

AORN embarked on the journey towards writing its national guidelines using a systematic review of the evidence in 2012. At that time, the evidence appraisal tools used by AORN guideline authors were adapted from those created by the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JH) and the Oncology Nurses Society (ONS). These research rating tools were an excellent place to begin the process of guideline development using a systematic review and have assisted AORN in creating its own evidence model. AORN has now applied the multiple lessons learned from this experience in order to create a new evidence rating model, hierarchy of evidence, and expanded appraisal tools.

• Revised AORN Evidence Model
• AORN Hierarchy of Evidence
• AORN Non-Research Evidence Appraisal Tool 
• AORN Research Evidence Appraisal Tool - Study
• AORN Research Evidence Appraisal Tool - Summary
• AORN Evidence Appraisal Companion Guide and Definitions