Abstract: Nurses have emotional labor in clinical work, and having emotional labor ability is of great significance to build a harmonious doctor-patient relationship, nurse-patient relationship, and to improve patients' satisfaction. Through the interpretation of the related concepts of emotional labor, theoretical analysis, and a review and comparison of research tools, methods and current status of nurses' emotional labor at home and abroad, we provide references for further in-depth, systematic research and application of nurses' emotional labor.

Key words: nurse; emotional labor; research application; prospect