Objective To design and explore the application effect of the information platform based nursing checklist for critically ill patients in the emergency department. Methods Based on the information platform in the hospital, a nursing checklist for critically ill patients in the emergency department was designed. Using the prospective quasi-experimental research design, the omission rate, clinical nursing effect and nursing quality of nursing handover before and after the application of the nursing checklist for critically ill patients were observed. Results After the use of the nursing checklist, rates of nurses′ omission in checking of intravenous lines, mode of ventilation, indwelling catheters, medications, skin and restraints were significantly lower than those before the use of the checklist (all P.<0.05). The clinical nursing effect and nursing quality were significantly improved compared with those before the application of the checklist (all P.<0.05). Conclusion The application of the information platform based nursing checklist for critically ill patients in the emergency department can reduce the missing contents of nurses′ shift handover, improve the accuracy of nursing records, shorten the writing time of nursing records, and improve nursing quality.