[The German nursing expert standards: powerful instruments to improve nursing practice or of doubtful benefit?].

The German Network for the Development of Quality in Nursing has published so-called "National Expert Standards" on selected nursing issues. These are implemented into nursing practice, used by health authorities to evaluate the quality of nursing care and also for legal judgement. Evidence-based quality criteria for practice guidelines are currently not met. The expert standards lack rigorous methods for development, transparent reporting and clarity. Implementation tools to allow structured implementation are not provided. Vague recommendations offer various possibilities of interpretation. Effectiveness of the expert standards has not yet been proven. Future nursing guidelines should take into account international quality criteria.