Objective To analyze the current status of human resources and task characteristics for obstetric anesthesia nurses, in order to provide evidence for improving their post management and team development.

Methods Convenience sampling was used to recruit obstetric anesthesia nurses in 298 maternity settings in China as study subjects from January to March 2024. A cross-sectional survey was conducted based on self-designed questionnaires, the “Survey on Human Resource Management and Position Management of Obstetric Anesthesia Nurses” and the “Survey on Job Practice Content of Obstetric Anesthesia Nurses”. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to analyze job contents of anesthesia nurses.

Results There were 507 obstetric anesthesia nurses in 298 maternity settings in China. Most of them were 30 − 39 years old (50.7%), with bachelor degree (82.1%), holding nurse practitioner and nurse-in-charge positions (84.0%), and working for less than 10 years (79.5%). Their roles playing mainly included obstetrical general anesthesia nurses (47.9%), anesthesia nurses working in obstetric operation room (44.8%) and working in obstetric post-anesthesia care unit (59.0%). The job descriptions of obstetrical general anesthesia nurses were clustered into 2 categories: Class Ⅰ included the management of narcotic drugs and equipment management, and infection control; Class Ⅱ was responsible for anesthesia-related charging. The job descriptions of anesthesia nurses working in obstetric OR were clustered into 4 categories: Class Ⅰ and Ⅱ were responsible for routine anesthesia nursing operations in the OR, which were mainly performed by anesthesia nurses independently or indirectly supervised by anesthesiologists; Class Ⅲ and Ⅳ were mainly in charge of special tests and operations. Nurses working in obstetric PACU were clustered into 2 categories: Class Ⅰ was responsible for basic tasks, including patients observation and transferal after cesarean section, health education and follow-up after anesthesia during hospitalization. Class Ⅱ would take charge of advanced tasks, such as airway management of cesarean section under general anesthesia, identification and management of postoperative anesthesia and surgical complications. Nurse posts at anesthesia out-patient clinic were clustered into 2 categories: Class Ⅰ took charge of preoperative anesthesia assessment; Class Ⅱ would be in charge of preoperative guidance for pregnant women with complications, identification and management of complications post-anesthesia, and follow-up. The posts of pain management anesthesia nurses were clustered into 3 categories: Class Ⅰ took charge of basic operations of pain management; Class Ⅱ would be responsible for pain assessment, preparation before analgesia, identification and management of complications, and evaluation of analgesic effect; Class Ⅲ would implement different analgesic measures.

Conclusion The professional title and educational background of obstetric anesthesia nurses need to be improved. Their job contents are characterized by a stepwise functional system. It is essential to further enhance their staffing structure and working patterns, rationally allocate post tasks, optimize their role functions, and improve post practice efficiency.