To evaluate the status of position management of anesthesia specialist nurses in China.

From January 2022 to March 2022, a cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-made questionnaire through convenience sampling to assess the current situation of position management of anesthesia specialist nurses in tertiary hospitals in mainland China.

A total of 154 questionnaires were distributed, 137 of which were recovered, the response rate was 89%, and 36 questionnaires were excluded. The survey involved 101 tertiary hospitals in 25 provincial administrative regions in China, and 90% of hospitals were general hospitals. Eighty-three percent of hospitals had separate anesthesia care units, anesthesia specialist nurses accounted for ≥ 10% of nurse anesthetists in 53% of hospitals. Ninety-four percent of hospitals had the position management system of specialist nurses, more than 50% of hospitals had position responsibility and hierarchical management systems and showed difference in position benefits. Less than 50% of hospitals had employed and full-time anesthesia specialist nurses. Fifty percent of hospitals conformed to the advocacy scope of anesthesia specialist nurse service. Fifty-five percent of hospitals carried out the qualification certification of anesthesia specialist nurses, and 37% of hospitals were the training bases for anesthesia specialist nurses. Ninety-six percent of hospitals formulated the development plan of anesthesia specialist nurses.

The position management of anesthesia specialist nurses has begun to take shape in tertiary hospitals in China at present, but the institutional system of position management and specialized management need to be strengthened.

Nurse anesthetists; Nursing administration research; Cross-sectional studies