Objective To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of clinical nursing interruptions among nurses with different responsibilities, to analyze the patterns of nurses′ response to nursing interruption events, and provide data support for targeted intervention. Methods A self-made questionnaire was used to investigate the interruption events of 15 nurses in 5 departments for 30 work days. Results The frequency of nursing interruption events was 7.17 counts per hour.The top three sources of interruption events were other nurses (290 counts), self (287 counts) and environment (285 counts); the top three interruptions were dealing with doctor′s orders (377 counts), administering drugs (356 counts),documentation works (202 counts).There were statistical differences in the above-mentioned categories among nurses with different responsibilities (all P＜0.01). The main coping mea-sures of nurses for interruptions were exchanges of thoughts (835 counts), deliveries of goods(142 counts) and continuation of nursing procedures (135 counts).As for the outcomes of interruption events, there were 222 counts of positive nursing interruptions; among the negative interruption events, there were 909 counts of work deferral, 48 counts of losing current memory and 153 counts of increased workload and 30 counts of potential adverse events. Conclusion Nursing interruption has a wide range of sources and a high incidence.Active intervention measures should be taken to avoid and reduce the occurrence of interruption, improve nurses′ ability to cope with nursing interruption, and optimize nurses′ work, in an effort to guarantee clinical nursing safty.