Objective <p>This study aimed to assess the current level of humanistic caring ability among vocational nursing students in Jiangsu Province and to identify factors associated with variability in this capacity. The findings are intended to inform enhancements in nursing education practices.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to November 2022, involving 685 vocational nursing students across three academic years from three vocational higher education institutions in Jiangsu Province. Stratified random sampling was employed. Data were collected using a general demographic questionnaire and the Caring Ability Inventory (CAI).</p> Results <p>The mean CAI score was 184.87 ± 19.107, which was below the normative benchmark established in the United States. Several factors were significantly associated with humanistic caring ability, including prior high school educational background, intent to pursue a nursing career, previous caregiving experience, family economic status, perceived family support, and the quality of both teacher-student and peer relationships.</p> Conclusion <p>The findings indicate that humanistic caring ability among vocational nursing students may be suboptimal, with observable gaps in confidence, skills, and motivation related to caregiving. These results underscore the need to explore pedagogical models tailored to vocational nursing education. Targeted instructional strategies and supportive learning environments may contribute to strengthening humanistic care competencies in this population.</p>