Abstract: Objective To understand the current situation and correlation of empathy ability and professional identity of male nursing students in a higher vocational college of Anhui Province. Methods By using the cluster sampling method,the current situation of empathy ability and professional identity of 362 male nursing students in a higher vocational college of Anhui Province were investigated by the Jefferson empathy scale-nursing student version and the nursing student professional identity scale In January 2022,and the data were analyzed. Results The score of empathy ability of male nursing students in a higher vocational college of Anhui Province was （101.21±18.49）points,and the score of professional identity was （65.73±12.21）points. There were statistically significant differences in the score of empathy ability among male nursing students in terms of grade,only child,whether they liked nursing,whether their parents supported studying nursing and their parents' educational level（all P<0.05）. There were statistically significant differences in the score of professional identity among male nursing students in terms of whether they liked nursing,whether their parents supported studying nursing（all P<0.05）. There was a positive correlation between professional identity and empathy ability of male nursing students in higher vocational college（r=0.557,P<0.05）. Conclusions The professional identity and empathy ability of male nursing students in a higher vocational college of Anhui Province need to be improved,and there is a close relationship between the empathy ability and professional identity of male nursing students in higher vocational college. The nursing educators can organically integrate the concepts of educating people,leading by example,and practicing through activities such as curriculum ideological and political construction,deepening college cooperation,and expanding social services,so that male nursing students can effectively improve empathy ability in the process of knowledge-belief-action and promote nursing professional identity.

Key words: Male nursing students, Professional identity, Empathy ability