Objective To evaluate the effects of empty nest elderly soothing care volunteer service on attitude towards hospice care and death among undergraduate nursing students. Methods Totally 176 undergraduate nursing students enrolled in 2014 were randomized into two groups, with 88 students in each group. The control group received the hospice care course，while the experimental group additionally carried out empty nest elderly soothing care volunteer service. Before and after the intervention, the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying-B (FATCOD-B) and the Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) were used to investigate their attitude of hospice care and death. Results After the intervention, the total and dimension scores of FATCOD-B in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group, and three subscale scores of DAP-R including fear of death, death avoidance and escape acceptance in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group, while the subscale scores of nature acceptance and approach acceptance were significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.01 for all). Conclusion Conducting the empty nest elderly soothing care volunteer service is conducive to improving nursing students′ attitude towards hospice care and death, and making good preparation for future hospice care related work.