Objective To study the effect of risk management in nursing management of head and neck oncology. Methods In 2010, risk management was applied to the nursing management of head and neck oncology through risk identification, increasing awareness of risk management, defining risk management responsibilities, strengthening the capacity of specialist nurses and emergency response, and strengthening risk control measures. Patients’satisfaction, care complaints, nursing risk occurrence, nurse praised visits between 2009 and 2010 were compared. Results There were significant differences comparing 2009 with 2010 in patient satisfaction, care complaints, nursing risk occurs, nurse praised visits in head and neck oncology(P