Abstract: Objective:To investigate the general abilities of nursing student in higher vocational colleges,and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:One hundred and sixty nursing students from a higher vocational college were investigated using a self-made questionnaire of General Ability Scale,the content of which included general situation and 7 dimensions,18 items general abilities,of nursing students.Results:The total score of the general ability of nursing student was (67.432±7.688).The scores of "working with and relating to others" and "applying design and creativity" were the highest(3.953±0.512) and lowest(3.565±0.656) among all dimensions,respectively.Except the score of "management and self-development ability" in boy was higher than that in girl(P<0.05),the differences of the scores of general ability and all dimensions in different gender nursing students were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Except the score of "working with and relating to others" in grade two students was significantly better than that in grade one students(P<0.05),the differences of the scores of general ability and all dimensions in different grade students were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The scores of "management and self-development ability","applying design and creativity" and general ability in nursing students served as class cadre previously were higher than those in nursing students nonserved as class cadre previously(P <0.05 to P <0.01).The differences of the scores of general ability and all dimensions in the only child or not were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusions:The general ability of nursing students is above the average level,but the abilities of "applying design and creativity","writing" and "solving problems" are lack,which should be strengthened.