Objective To evaluate the effect of adding learning and growing indexes into nursing performance appraisal system on nurses′ participation in scientific research and continuing education. Methods Through a historical control design, we added learning and growing indexes and post coefficients of nurses into nursing performance appraisal system which originally consisted of workloads, work quality, and subsidies of nigh shifts.Every month, a performance appraisal group was designated to quantify nurses′ performance and allocate their salaries.Four departments were selected to run the new performance appraisal system for one year before effect evaluation. Results After implementation of the new performance appraisal system, the proportions of nurses who published papers, hosted lectures, participated in competitions, participated in continuing education, completed annual continuing education credits, and applied for provincial and municipal medical continuing education projects were significantly higher than those before (P＜0.05,P＜0.01). Conclusion Adding learning and growing indexes into nursing performance appraisal system can have positive impact on nurses′ participation in scientific research and continuing education.