Abstract: Objective：To describe the current status of evidence-based nursing ability of nurses in different grades of hospitals. Methods：A total of 1 036 nurses from 13 different level hospitals in Shanghai were surveyed using the Evidence-based Nursing Competency Rating Scale. Results：The original score of nurses’ evidence-based nursing competence in primary hospitals and secondary hospitals were (50.21±9.474) and (50.56±10.724), which were significantly lower than that (52.30± 12.070) for nurses in tertiary hospitals (F=3.575, P=0.028). The original score of nurses’ evidence transfer, situation assessment and evidence implementation competence in primary hospitals and secondary hospitals were (25.30±5.540 ) and (25.58±5.435), which were significantly lower than that (26.58±6.639) for nurses in tertiary hospitals (F=4.266 , P=0.014). Conclusions：The evidence-based nursing competence among nurses in different level hospitals is generally at a low level. It is suggested that the evidence-based nursing education should be put emphasis on improving the evidence transfer, situation assessment, and evidence implementation competence of nurses in the future, especially for nurses in primary and secondary hospitals.