Abstract: Objective: To obtain effective nutritional screening for patients with head and neck cancer before operations through implementing evidence-based nursing. Methods: Guidelines and evidences summarized from The European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) on nutritional screening of patients with cancer were applied in the head and neck surgery unit of a certain tertiary Grade A hospital according to the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-based Practice (JHNEBP) model. Results: Evidence-based nursing created positive effects on nutritional nursing management in patients with head and neck cancer before their operations yet with room for improvement. Conclusion: The quality of nutritional nursing management could be refined by carrying out evidence-based nursing in nutritional screening for patients with head and neck cancer before their operations.

Key words: head and neck cancer; nutrition; evidence-based nursing