Objective: To explore the current situation and influencing factors of pre - internship nursing students' death - coping ability, providing a reference for their education and training.Methods: From January 2024 to February 2024, pre - internship nursing students majoring in nursing at a certain university were taken as the research objects. Questionnaire surveys were conducted using the General Information Questionnaire, Chinese Version of the Death - Coping Ability Scale, Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory, and Death Education Training Demand Scale.Results: Among the 1006 pre - internship nursing students surveyed, the total score of the Death - Coping Ability Scale was (128.91 ± 30.06) points. The average score of the items in the life reflection ability dimension was (5.06 ± 1.31) points; the average score of the items in the ability to communicate about terminal illness or death with others dimension was (4.84 ± 1.19) points; the average score of the items in the death - coping ability dimension was (4.57 ± 1.26) points; the average score of the items in the self - death acceptance ability dimension was (4.46 ± 1.29) points; the average score of the items in the self - death perception and expression ability dimension was (4.46 ± 1.17) points; the average score of the items in the ability to handle post - death matters dimension was (4.28 ± 1.29) points. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that whether being an only child, the frequency of talking about death topics at home, whether having read books or materials related to death, the attitude towards death, whether having received palliative care education courses, and the openness and extraversion dimensions in personality traits were the main influencing factors of pre - internship nursing students (p < 0.05).Conclusion: According to the survey, the death - coping ability of pre - internship nursing students is at a medium level. Universities should increase courses related to life - and - death education and palliative care, improve the ability of nursing students to face death with a positive attitude, and provide better services for patients.