Abstract: Objective: To analyze the requirements for the advanced practice nurse (APN) in surgical wards, and to provide insights into their specific roles and responsibilities. Methods: The phenomenological research approach was used from January to April 2021 to conduct semi-structured interviews with 19 participants, including doctors, nursing managers, and clinical nurses from the related subspecialties. Colaizzi's 7-step method was used to analyze the collected data. Results: Four themes were developed to describe the need for APN in surgical wards, including to improve patients quality and safety, to promote multidisciplinary collaboration, to pacilitate the development of nursing profession, and to optimize the mangement systems. Conclusion: There is a strong demand for APN in surgical wards. It is necessary to further clarify the responsibilities and rights, and to promote the development of APN in China.

Key words: department of surgery; Advanced Practice Nurse; phenomenology; qualitative research