Abstract: Objective To investigate the level and characteristics of network literacy among nursing undergraduates, and compare online learning effect of students with different level of network literacy. Methods Nursing undergraduates with online learning experience were investigated by demographic questionnaire, College Students' Network Literacy Scale and Online Learning Effect Questionnaire. Mplus 7.4 was used to conduct latent profile analysis, and SPSS 23.0 to compare the difference of online learning effects among student with different level of network literacy. Results A total of 490 nursing undergraduates were included, and 4 latent categories of network literacy were observed: “group with low level network literacy”(8.4%), “medium level-low publishing skill group”(54.1%), “medium-high level and low interactive innovation group”(24.3%) and “high level-poor internet publishing group”(13.2%). Moreover, significant differences were found in the online learning effect of students from different latent categories (H=85.140,P<0.001). Conclusion Network literacy of nursing undergraduates can be divided into 4 latent categories and online learning effects of students with different network literacy are varied. So specific intervention based on the homogeneity of students' network literacy should be implemented to improve online learning effects among nursing undergraduates.

Key words: nursing undergraduate, network literacy, latent profile analysis, online learning effect