Objective To evaluate the application effect of a rapid assessment process for spinal cord neurological function in clinical nursing. Methods According to the segmental innervation distribution of spinal cord, and combining with the neurologic classification standard of spinal cord injury and the characteristics of clinical work, a rapid assessment process for spinal cord neurological function was developed, which was then used to assess spinal cord neurological function for 1 763 spine or spinal cord disease patients after surgery in 2017 （after intervention）. The assessment result was compared with the information of the patients underwent surgery in 2016 （before intervention）, and personal in-depth interviews were conducted among 12 nurses who had participated in the rapid assessment process for spinal cord neurological function. Results Before the intervention, the rate of neurological function impairement or abnormal for the spine or spinal cord disease patients after surgery was 0.49%（9/1824）, 6 of the patients were detected timely, and the neurological function of 8 patients recovered after resolving. After the intervention, the rate of neurological function impairement or abnormal was 0.40%（7/1763）, 7 patients were detected timely, and the neurological function of all the patients recovered after resolving. The interviewed nurses thought the rapid assessment process was fast and time-saving,convenient for timely detection of disease changes, easy for nurses to grasp, and high participation of patients and family members. Conclusion Establishment and application of the rapid assessment process for spinal cord neurological function is conducive to detecting neurological function change timely and improving the recovery of neurological function.It can be used as a routine monitoring project of specialized nursing after spinal surgery.