This study adopts a descriptive phenomenological approach to investigate the facilitators and barriers of community nurses' abilities in managing critical and emergency conditions. With the transition of healthcare systems to the community, the evolution of nursing practices, and the attention from policies and practices, community nurses play a crucial role in the management of critical and emergency conditions. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the factors that promote or hinder their capabilities in this area.To understand the facilitators and barriers of community nurses in managing critical and emergency conditions, exploring the fundamental reasons and driving forces influencing their treatment capabilities.This study utilized the destination sampling method between May 2023 and July 2023. It employed a descriptive phenomenological approach within qualitative research methodologies. Through objective sampling, 17 community nurses from 7 communities in Changning District, Shanghai, were selected as the study subjects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data, which were subsequently organized and analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method, leading to the extraction of final themes.The barrier factors identified from the interviews encompassed three topics: resource allocation, professional factors, and personal literacy. The facilitators comprised three themes: professionalism, management attention, and training and continuing education. We identified that the root causes of the barriers included the lack of practical treatment experience among community nurses, insufficient awareness of self-directed learning, and limited knowledge and technical proficiency. The professional quality of community nurses and management attention serve as motivation for them to enhance their treatment abilities.To enhance the capability of community nurses in treating acute and critical patients, it is recommended to bolster training specifically tailored to acute and critical care, raise awareness of first aid practices, and elevate knowledge and skill levels.©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.