[Development of the concept of Evidence-Based Nursing]

In 1991, Professor Alba Diconso from MaMaster University put forward the idea of Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN). With the reference of evidence-based medicine (EBM), the concept of EBN was kept improving. In 1996, York University began to establish an EBN center to retrospect literature about nursing and publish their results. In 1997, Adelaide hospital in Australia set up the second EBN center. A series of monographic activities were held to offer empirical evidence for nursing practice, with great influence world-wide. In March 1997, an EBM Cochrane center was established by the Ministry of health of China in Huaxi Hospital affiliated to Shichuan University. Establishment of this center accelerated the spread of EBM and EBN nursing, and EBN began to be applied and developed in China.