Objective: To establish an evaluation index system on influencing factors of career exploration which is appropriate for nursing students in higher vocational colleges. Methods: The system was established and demonstrated through cross-sectional study, literatures review and two rounds of expert meetings. Results: The evaluation index system on influencing factored of career exploration in higher vocational colleges consisted of two aspects of individual factors and environmental factors. The individual factors were divided into two aspects, including self-characteristics, and self-construction. And the environmental factors were divided into three aspects, including family factors, school-related factors and social factors. Eventually 24 indicators at level 3 were set, which constituted the final evaluation index system. Conclusions: An evaluation index system on influencing factors of career exploration which was appropriate for nursing students in higher vocational colleges was preliminarily determined. This study provided a basis for further study of influencing factors of career exploration for nursing students in higher vocational colleges.