Objective To evaluate the effects of Balint group approach on improving workplace indifference and empathic abilities among undergraduate nursing interns. Methods Two hundred undergraduate nursing students during clinical practice were rando-mized to a control group of 100 that received usual clinical mentoring, or to an experimental group of 100 that received training based on Balint groups once every two weeks for six sessions（a period of 12 weeks）. Results The experimental group had significantly lower score of workplace indifference, but higher empathy score compared with the control group after the intervention （both P<0.05）. Conclusion Balint groups can reduce workplace indifference and improve empathic ability of nursing students, thus to enable them to build positive professional value.