Objective To introduce the concept of target management in the standardized management of clinical nursing adverse events, and to reduce the incidence rate of clinical nursing adverse events. Methods The target management project team was formed to retrospectively analyze the adverse events occurring in recent three years, set up management target, establish nursing risk assessment early warning platform and conduct target oriented monitoring and control. Then theme activities of "Nursing Safety Month", layered systematic training, and multi-integrated supervision, etc. were implemented. Results After conducting target management (2018), the incidence rate of clinical nursing adverse events was 0.058‰, which was lower than that before target management, and the implementation rate of sensitive indicators of nursing quality increased significantly (P<0.01 for all). Conclusion The practice of standardized management based on the concept of target management for clinical nursing adverse events, is conducive to promoting standardization of nursing work, reducing the incidence rate of nursing adverse events, improving the overall level of nursing safety management, and ensuring patient safety ultimately.