Objective　To comparatively analyze the changes regulation of death attitude and death education needs for undergraduate nursing students in different grades. Methods　From March to June in 2019

766 undergraduate nursing students from Batch 2015 to Batch 2018 of a medical college were collected in cluster sampling. The investigation was conducted by using the scale of Death Attitude Profile-revised in Chinese version and the scale of death education needs. SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis

ＬＳＤ test for measurement data

and chi-square test for counting data. Results　There were increasing trends of scores from freshman to junior in dimensions of fear of death

approach-oriented death acceptance and escape-oriented death acceptance (P < 0.05)

and the scores decreased in senior

but without statistical difference compared with junior (P > 0.05). In neutral death acceptance dimension

the score decreased significantly in the second year (P = 0.001)

and then returned back to the original level in the fourth year. No significantly statistical difference was found in scores of different grades in death escape dimension (P = 0.038). The score of death education need in the fourth year was the highest (P < 0.05) and was positively correlated with the score of neutral death acceptance dimension (P = 0.007). Conclusion　With the increase of school year

nursing students' positive attitude for death demonstrates positive trend

while the level of negative attitude of death are becoming balanced. The fourth year is suggested to be the right time to conduct death education immediately.