Objective To explore the psychological experiences of operating room nurses participating in organ transplant surgeries, providing a basis for medical institutions to develop targeted psychological support programs.

Methods Using a phenomenological research method, semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted from January to March 2026 with 17 operating room nurses who had participated in organ transplant surgeries at a tertiary hospital in Shanghai. Interviews were recorded, and observations were made. The interview data were analyzed, summarized, and themes were refined using Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method.

Results The psychological experiences of operating room nurses participating in organ transplant surgeries were identified as 5 main themes and 14 sub-themes: emotional impact and empathy load (shock and grief confronting life and death, deep empathy for patients and families, awe and gratitude towards organ donors); pressure experience and physical-mental exhaustion (urgency under time pressure, load of operational precision requirements, excessive consumption of physical and mental resources); cognitive appraisal and meaning construction (reappraisal of professional value, deep reflection on the meaning of life, positioning and identification of one’s role); coping strategies and adjustment process (active learning and experiential reflection, self-emotional regulation and social support); growth experience and psychological transformation (enhancement of psychological resilience, establishment of professional confidence, deepening of professional mission).

Conclusions Operating room nurses undergo complex and profound psychological experiences while participating in organ transplant surgeries, enduring strong emotional impact and physical-mental stress while also achieving psychological growth and deepening professional identity through practice. Nursing managers should pay attention to the mental health of this group and construct a multi-level support system to promote their physical and psychological well-being.