Clinical guidelines: grading the evidence behind the practice.

Clinical practice guidelines are statements to assist in healthcare decisions for patients with the same illness or procedure. Guidelines comprise elements that describe different aspects of the patient's condition and the required care. Many organizations publish guidelines, including the Society for Vascular Nursing. Evidence is the foundation of guidelines and their practice recommendations. This evidence is primarily from research. Developing a grading system for the research and the associated practice elements improves the strength of a guideline's statements. This article discusses the grading system selected by the Society for Vascular Nursing (SVN) Practice and Research Committee when creating the forthcoming carotid stent nursing practice guideline.