Objective To understand perceptions towards and willingness to commit to potential organ donation among nurses and nursing students in Jinan, and to analyze the factors that hinder nurses and nursing students from being actively involved in organ donation. Methods Totally, 401 nurses and nursing students from 2 provincial and 3 municipal hospitals in Jinan were investigated with a self-designed questionnaire regarding perceptions towards and willingness to commit to potential organ donation. Results The average score of participants knowledge of organ donation was (12.34±3.19) points; 113 nurses and nursing students were willing to become a potential organ donator, and 30 had registered with the national organ donation website. Univariate analysis demonstrated that, participants willingness to donate organs was significantly affected by the department they worked with, whether someone around them had donated , and whether they had participated in organ donation at work . Conclusion Nurses′ and nursing students′ knowledge of organ donation is still at a low level, and hospital training courses are helpful to improve the willingness of medical staff to take part in organ donation related work.