〔Abstract〕 Objective Based on the best evidence to find the intervention method of closed thoracic drainage for patients with pleural effusion, and the actual effect of this method in drainage nursing was explored. MethodsA total of 88 pleural effusion patients undergoing closed thoracic drainage in Anyang District Hospital from February 2018 to October 2020 were selected and divided into routine group and intervention group by random number table method, with 44 cases in each group. Routine nursing was carried out in the routine group, and systematic nursing intervention based on the best evidence was carried out in the intervention group. According to PIPOST model to determine relevant evidence-based nursing intervention and the retrieval strategy, establish the team, retrieval platform of clinical practice guidelines related database both at home and abroad, extraction in the chest cavity closed drainage tube nursing, psychological counseling, emergency treatment, functional exercise, professional training and health education, etc, the best evidence, form the system of nursing intervention. The two groups were compared in terms of drainage time, daily drainage volume, average length of hospital stay, complications, physiological function, pain sensation, psychological state and social function scores before and after nursing. Results The average daily discharge and average length of hospitalization in the intervention group were less than those in the routine group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of complications after pleural effusion drainage in the intervention group was lower than that in the routine group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The scores of quality of life after nursing in the intervention group were higher than those in the routine group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Conclusion Based on the best evidence, the systematic nursing intervention of closed thoracic drainage for patients with pleural effusion can reduce the incidence of complications after drainage, relieve patients' bad mood, improve the quality of life, and improve the prognosis.