Objective To explore the influence of nursing short videos on nursing students′ professional values, so as to provide a basis for the education of nursing students′ professional values in the new media environment. Methods Based on the perspective of symbolic interactionism, 14 junior college nursing students were selected by purposive sampling for semi-structured interviews, and data were analyzed by content analysis. Results Three themes were extracted:positive symbolic interaction shapes professional values (deepening professional cognition, strengthening professional identity, awakening humanistic awareness, and stimulating professional growth);negative symbolic interaction dissolves professional values (increasing professional anxiety, shaking professional beliefs, causing deviation in professional cognition, and weakening professional sense of gain);key moderating factors in symbolic interaction (professional identity, self-efficacy, critical thinking, and perceived social support). Conclusion Nursing short videos exert a dual effect of "shaping-dissolution" on nursing students′ professional values, in which individual internal traits and external support systems play important moderating roles.It is suggested to guide nursing students to establish positive and stable professional values by strengthening media literacy education, optimizing the professional information environment, and constructing a social support system.