Objective To investigate the status quo of anesthesia nurses’ role perception and analyze its influencing factors and its relationship with general self-efficacy. Methods From February to June 2024, 246 anesthesia nurses from tertiary hospitals in 8 provinces and cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Henan provinces were selected as the research objects by using the convenient sampling method. Questionnaire surveys were conducted through the general data questionnaire, the Role Perception Scale and the General Self-efficacy Scale. Results Anesthesia nurses’ role perception score was (51.53±15.75) point, the score of the articles was (2.45±0.75) point, which was slightly below the medium level. Univariate analysis showed that the difference in anesthesia nurses’ role perception scores was statistically significant in terms of age, marital status, type of employment, title, years of anesthesia nursing experience, is an anesthesia specialist nurses, frequency of weekly anesthesia nursing training, and time of establishing anesthesia nursing unit (P0.05). General self-efficacy and role perceptions, as well as its various dimensions, all showed a positive correlation (P0.01). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that years of anesthesia nursing experience, frequency of weekly anesthesia nursing training, time of establishing anesthesia nursing unit and general self-efficacy were the factors influencing the role perception of anesthesia nurses (P0.05). General self-efficacy could independently explained 10.7% of the variance in anesthesia nurses’ role perception. Conclusion Anesthesia nurse’ role perception were slightly below the medium level. The higher the general self-efficacy, the higher the level of role perception. Nursing managers should attach importance to anesthesia nursing training and assist anesthesia nurses in fully leveraging their strengths and gaining successful experience to enhance their general self-efficacy and promote role perception.