Objective To evaluate the effect of applying graduate teaching assistantship in management of open nursing laboratory. Methods A total of 96 undergraduate nursing students were selected as the intervention group who were under the charge of graduate assistants in open nursing laboratory. Another 92 undergraduate nursing students were selected as the control group who were managed under the traditional mode in open nursing laboratory. After lab teaching, the study effects were evaluated by theoretical and skill tests and a questionnaire survey. Results The scores of laboratory internal inspection management in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Likewise the scores of theoretical and skill tests (P＜0.05,P＜0.01). More than 83.33% of the nursing students recognized that graduate teaching assistants could help them put theory learning into practice, improve nursing skills levels and promote reflection. Conclusion The practice of applying graduate teaching assistantship in management of open nursing laboratory is beneficial to improve both the effect of laboratory management and nursing students′skills levels.