Abstract: Objective: To investigate the nursing manpower allocation and post management of Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) in western China. Methods: The convenient sampling method was used to recruit 232 hospitals in 9 provinces to do the investigation. Results: The higher the hospitals level were, the lower the ratios of nurses to the hundred beds were with 1.12±0.86 in the tertiary grade A hospitals, 1.58±0.91 in the tertiary grade B hospitals, and 1.92±1.07 in the secondary grade A hospitals (P<0.05). The higher the level of the hospitals were, the higher the nurse's undergraduate degree were, the more nurses with the working years of 1~2 were, the lower the number of transporting post, manual cleaning, mechanical cleaning, sterilization were, the higher the number of regional leader, hospital infection management assistant and continuing education training specialis were (P<0.05). In the western region, only 10.83% of tertiary grade A hospitals are equipped with scientific research assistants with 4.76% in tertiary grade B, hospital and 2.86% in second grade A hospital. Conclusion: In western China, the managers of CSSD should optimize the nursing manpower allocation and strengthen post management, and improve nursing's education and position competence, and give support to scientific research to meet the needs of professional development.

Key words: Central Sterile Supply Departments; nurse; manpower allocation; post management