Objective To explore the effects of an elderly chronic disease experiential teaching program on newly graduated nurses′ attitudes toward older people, empathy, caring ability, and health education competence, and to innovate the training model for newly graduated nurses. Methods A total of 76 newly graduated nurses rotating through the geriatrics department were randomly assigned to a control group or an observation group, with 38 in each group.The control group received conventional theoretical teaching and observed the daily lives of elderly patients with chronic diseases while providing care.The observation group, in addition to theoretical learning, participated in experiential activities by wearing aging simulation suits to complete tasks related to daily living, communication, and eating.Before and after the training, the Kogan′s Attitudes toward Old People Scale, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, the Caring Ability Inventory, and the Health Education Competence Scale were used for evaluating the effect.In addition, nurses in the observation group were asked to write reflective reports on their experiential activity. Results A total of 32 nurses in the control group and 36 in the observation group completed the study.After the training, the scores for attitudes toward older people, empathy, careing ability, and health education competence in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P＜0.05).Newly graduated nurses in the observation group reported that the experiential activity improved their practical health education skills and inspired clinical innovation. Conclusion The elderly chronic disease experiential activity can effectively promote empathy toward elderly patients among newly graduated nurses and improve their health education competence and caring ability.