Abstract: A survey and analysis were conducted on 418 nursing students in the vocational college using the Innovation Ability Scale for College Students to investigate the current situation of innovation ability of nursing students and analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide corresponding countermeasures for improving students' innovation ability. The results show the total score of innovative ability of nursing students was 2.50±0.53, and the scores of each dimension from high to low were 3.06±0.78 for innovative thinking, 2.81±0.70 for innovative motivation, 2.53±0.73 for imagination, 2.31±0.63 for innovative skills, and 2.02±0.70 for innovative personality, and holding a position, social practice, and participation experience were the three main factors affecting students' innovative ability (P<0.05). The innovative ability of nursing students is at an intermediate level, and institutions should encourage students to actively participate in social practice, be brave enough to take charge of project activities, and use various competitions as an opportunity to exercise and improve their innovative ability.

Key words: Nursing, Vocational education, Innovation ability, Influencing factors, Survey analysis, Students