Objective To discuss the effect of managing nurses working in a hospital unit based on self-determination theory. Methods A historical control design was adopted in the study: in 2015, 74 nurses working in the department of lymphoma were managed with traditional methods, while in 2016, the nurses were managed based on self-determination theory.Measures were as follows: the nurses decided their career path based on their fields of interest and wills, to satisfy their sense of autonomy;the head nurses assisted the nurses to develop individualized annual goals and steps of goal fulfillment to satisfy their need to build their competence; a WeChat group was created for medical staff and their family members to boost chat conversation, and archives of the family members were established, to satisfy nurses′ need of belongings.Before and after implementation of the management model, nurses were measured with the General Self-efficacy Scale (GSE), and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Results After implementation of the management model, nurses scored higher in self-efficacy, and lower in SCL-90 totals and the dimensions of somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and hostility than before（P＜0.01 for both）. Conclusion Management of nurses based on self-determination theory by the head nurses can effectively improve nurses′enthu-siasm, and enhance their work status and mental health status.