Objective To explore the real-life experiences of emergency nurses caring for unidentified patients, so as to provide refe-rences for improving the quality of care for unidentified patients. Methods A phenomenological research method was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with 15 emergency nurses who had experience caring for unidentified patients. The Colaizzi 7-step analysis method was used to extract themes. Results Four core themes and nine subthemes were identified: multiple care challenges (increased burden of daily care, additional coordination tasks, heightened nursing safety risks, and communication difficulties), increased psychological stress (concerns about patient aggression, concerns about medical disputes, fatigue and emotional exhaustion), enhanced professional identity, and diverse needs (supplementation of human resources and living supplies, and the creation of a supportive medical environment). Conclusion Emergency nurses face multiple care challenges, complex emotional experiences, and diverse needs when caring for unidentified patients. Managers should optimize resource allocation, strengthen trai-ning and capacity building for emergency nurses, and continuously improve the emergency care process for unidentified patients, so as to enhance the quality of care.