Abstract: Objective To explore the scope of practice and core competence of nurses acted as sex therapist in China. Methods An interview guide was developed through literature review, and a semi-structured interview was conducted with 23 participants including learners, experts and social groups. The interview data was coded using NVivo 12 software. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Following the six phases principle by Braun and Clarke, the data were inductively analyzed and themes were identified and refined. Results The main scope of practice for nurses acted as sex therapist primarily involved providing sex education, counseling and therapy for populations with sexual dysfunction and disorders, as well as sexual minorities. The core competencies can be summarized into 5 themes: professional clinical practice competence; critical thinking competence; professional development competence; management and coordination competence, and legal and ethical practice competence. Conclusion The scope of practice for nurses acted as sex therapist involves working with various populations experiencing sexual issues. Core competencies for nurses acted as sex therapist should encompass multiple dimensions, with professional clinical practice competence as the central ability, supported by complementary other competencies. A practical and scientific core competency evaluation index system needs to be developed through quantitative research, thus to provide reference for the cultivation and management of applied nursing talents in the field of sexual medicine and health.

Key words: nurses acted as sex therapist, sex therapist, sex therapy, nurse specialist, core competence, qualitative study