Aim This study aims to explore nursing emergency management system under public health emergencies. Design A descriptive qualitative study. Method Semi‐structured interviews were conducted during March–November 2020 with 11 nursing emergency management administrators from 11 COVID‐19 designated hospitals and infectious disease hospitals under four administrative divisions in China, who were recruited through convenience and purposive sampling. Interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed with Braun and Clarke's inductive thematic analysis. The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Results Three main themes emerged from data analysis: (1) Five core elements of nursing emergency management system: Structure, Staff, System, Setting, and Supply (5S); (2) Four phases of nursing emergency management system: Reduction, Readiness, Response and Recovery (4R); and (3) operational process of nursing emergency management system (5S*4R). The findings generated a conceptual model of a nursing emergency management system. Public Contribution This study provides a theoretical basis for nursing emergency management system for public health emergencies in the future. Nurse administrators could refer to this model to either review or develop their system and develop viable interventions to prepare for future public health emergencies.