Objective To explore the current status of knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) for emerging infectious diseases (EID) in the emergency department nurses and to analyze the influencing factors.

Methods The self-designed KAP questionnaire of EID were used in 360 emergency department nurses. The related influencing factors were analyzed through multiple linear stepwise regression.

Results The survey achieved a response of 98.6%(355/360).The knowledge dimension score of emergency department nurses was 4.10±1.86, the attitude dimension score was 30.50±3.77, and the practice dimension score was 68.77±8.68. Univariate analysis revealed that the nurses with ≥37 years old, 16-34 years of nursing age, 16-31 years of working in the emergency department, Junior college or below, senior nurse, placed in triage positions had higher knowledge score (P < 0.05); the nurses with 32-36 years old, 11-15 years of nursing age, placed in triage positions had higher attitude score were (P < 0.05); the nurses with 11-15 years of nursing age, placed in triage positions had higher behavior score (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that nursing age, professional rank, and the highest education were the influencing factors of the knowledge score of EID (P < 0.05); nursing age and operating post were the influencing factors of the attitude and practice scores of EID (P < 0.05).

Conclusions Nurses in the emergency department have a positive attitude towards EID, but their knowledge is not comprehensive enough and their practical ability needs to be further improved. The knowledge training and practice need to be strengthened for emergency department nurses aged 6 to 10 years, the emergency department nurses aged 11 to 15 years and placed in triage positions can be selected as key targets to deal with EID.