Abstract
The purpose of this article is to explain how an evidence-based practice team of 7 nurses appraised the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation in Europe (AGREE) instrument. The quality and rigor of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) vary. The AGREE instrument is a tool that provides a framework to assess the quality of CPGs and determine applicability to practice. By appraising the CPGs using this tool, nurses established best practice for renal screening before angiography. Nursing practice outcomes from the appraisal process include an increased appreciation of the science behind evidence-based treatment recommendations and greater confidence to recommend changes in practice. The AGREE scores substantiated the need to change renal screening to include an index of renal function before cardiac angiography. The AGREE instrument is an effective tool to assess CPG quality. Future research should expand upon translating CPGs into bedside practice.