Objective To explore the suitability and application effect of early clinical clerkship by low grade nursing undergraduates.Methods This study used questionnaire survey and interview. An early clinical clerkship program was developed and conducted among 89 undergraduates of first-year nursing students at Peking Union Medical College. Then students' skill scores and theoretical scores were tested; students' clinical learning conditions were surveyed by self-compiled clinical learning evaluation scales; students' views on the early clinical clerkship were interviewed by reflective interview.Results Students' skill scores and theoretical scores were fairly well; the clinical learning score was satisfied with (87.8±3.7) points. Questionnaire survey and reflective interview showed that students had high level of interest in nursing major, and most students were willing to communicate with patients and provide help.Conclusions The early clinical clerkship is well adapted and feasible in low grade nursing undergraduates. To a certain extent, it can improve the learning outcomes, help the establishment of nursing professionalism, and cultivate the professional emotion. Other nursing educators can use early clinical clerkship according to their own situations.