[Successful strategies and methods of nursing standards implementation]

Standards and guidelines are useful elements in quality development and helpful to influence practice of health professionals. However, there are some unanswered questions regarding the circumstances and preconditions of effective change in practice. In German research there is a lack of ambitious evaluation studies concerning implementing standards. Getting evidence about supporting and restricting factors of implementing guidelines into nursing practice is the aim of this article.

With the help of a search of relevant literature in appropriate data bases the research findings are systematically analysed.

Effective implementation and distribution strategies are programs that realise an active involvement of practitioners and that are practically orientated. Passive attempts to distribute information and specification reveal only little success. A multiple intervention program addressing the introduction process and organisational conditions promise the very best influence on the practice of care.