A qualitative study of emergency management ability of anesthetist nurses

ABSTRACT Background: In China, most nurse anesthetists enter the profession from a general nursing background, often lacking specific expertise in anesthesia, procedural competencies, and Emergency management skills initially. Moreover, the absence of a uniform standardized training framework for new nurse anesthetists hinders their ability to respond to crisis and provide comprehensive anaesthesia care. Objectives: This study aims to exploring the components of anesthesia nurses’ emergency management abilities and to provide a foundation for establishing a comprehensive and systematic emergency management competency system for anesthesia nurses. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological research method was employed. Using purposive sampling, 13 anesthesia nurses and department managers from the anesthesia department of a Grade A tertiary general hospital were selected for semistructured interviews from January to February 2026. Thematic analysis was utilized for data analysis. Results: Four primary themes and thirteen subthemes were identified through the analysis. The themes include: (1) Emergency Response Knowledge Base; (2) Emergency Response Competency; (3) Teamwork and Communication Skills (4) Psychological Resilience and Reflective Practice. These themes and subthemes provide a detailed and structured overview of participants’ experiences, and primary challenges from the training. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the emergency management competency system for anesthesia nurses should be based on a foundational framework comprising an Emergency Response Knowledge Base, Emergency Response Competency, Teamwork and Communication Skills, Psychological Resilience, and Reflective Practice. Particular emphasis should be placed on the content and implications of Emergency Response Competency as well as Psychological Resilience and Reflective Practice. This approach is intended to refine a more comprehensive and rigorous assessment system for the emergency management competency of anesthesia nurses.