Abstract: Objective To examine the relationship among core self-evaluation, mindfulness and academic burnout in nursing students. Methods General information questionnaire, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Core Self- evaluations Scale (CSES), and Academic Burnout Scale were used to investigate 417 nursing students from one medical college in Shandong, then the mediating effect of core self-evaluation on mindfulness and academic burnout of nursing students was explored. Results The total score of nursing students' mindfulness, core self-evaluation and academic burnout was 53.51±10.39, 33.57±5.10 and 57.76±9.43 respectively. Mindfulness and core self-evaluation directly affected academic burnout (β=-0.29, β=-0.50, P<0.05) and mindfulness directly affected core self-evaluation(β=0.47,P<0.05), but indirectly affected academic burnout through core self-evaluation. Conclusion Mindfulness of nursing students in medical colleges is in a medicate level but their core self-evaluation and academic burnout are in a mediate or below level. Mindfulness indirectly affectes academic burnout through core self-evaluation. Nursing educators in medical colleges should take various measures to improve the level of mindfulness of nursing undergraduates, help them have positive self-evaluation, and reduce the risk of academic burnout.

Key words: mindfulness, academic burnout, core self-evaluation, nursing student