Objective To formulate an evidence-based position program for a ventilation patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods Based on fully assessing the patient’s conditions, the clinical problems were put forward according to PICO principles. Such database as The Cochrane Library (2005 to January 2011), DARE (March 2011), CCTR (March 2011), MEDLINE (1996 to January 2011) and CNKI (1979 to January 2011) were retrieved to collect high quality clinical evidence, and then the optimum nursing program was designed in line with patient’s conditions and relatives’ willingness. Results Three meta-analyses, three randomized controlled trials, one systematic review and one anterior-posterior self-control study were included. The available clinical evidence displayed that: a) the prone position adopting earlier, especially for patients with bilateral lungs or left lung functional disorder, was propitious to effectively improve the oxygenation condition and reduce the incidence of ventilator induced lung injury (VILI); b) The long-term prone position could increase the risk of pressure sore; c) The prone position could prolong the survival time, but there was no enough evidence to prove that it could obviously decrease the mortality rate of ARDS. So finally a nursing plan was made in combination with literature evidence and patient’s condition: adopting the prone position after onset within 24 to 36 hours, and enhancing the skin nursing to prevent pressure sore at the same time. After 4-week comprehensive therapy and prone position ventilation, the patient got obvious alleviated in oxygenation, with SpO 2 up to 90% to 100%, stable vital signs, and no more VILI and pressure sore. And then the patient was stopped applying ventilator, and transferred to a general ward for further treatment. Conclusion The earlier adoption of prone position ventilation for severe ARDS can improve oxygenation and reduce ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) and VILI, but whether it can prolong survival time and reduce mortality for mild ARDS or not still has to be proved with more high quality evidence in the future.