Objective To investigate the effect of professional attitude of nursing students with different educational backgrounds on the clinical ability. Methods 172 nursing students practiced in our hospital from July, 2006 to May, 2008 were given a self-designed questionnaire and invited to answer the questions in the form. Then, an analysis was conducted based on the surveyed results. Results For the total score of professional attitude and the total score of clinical ability of nursing students with different educational levels, the scores were (75.04±13.11) and (160.46±17.97) in the nursing undergraduates, (79.26±13.12) and (154.11±20.93) in the college nursing students, as well as (83.28±13.12) and (147.76±23.89) in the nursing students from senior high school, respectively. There was a correlation between the attitude and the total score (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusions Professional attitude is highly correlated with clinical ability. A significant difference exists between students with baccalaureate degree, associate degree and technique degree. Occupational education such as students' ideological education, professional ethics and humanities education, should be enhanced in the higher education institutions by the education managers. In turn, the enhancement of the clinical ability may stabilize the professional attitude. Key words: Students,nursing; Clinical clerkship; Professional attitude; Ability