Objective To explore the effects of the "internet plus conception, design, implementation and operation(CDIO)" teaching mode in Internal Medicine Nursing in higher vocational nursing students. Methods Totally 106 nursing students from nursing Classes 6 and 7, Department of Nursing, Maoming Academy of Health, who were admitted in 2016, were selected by convenient sampling between September and November 2016. Nursing students from Class 6 were divided into the observation group (n=51), while nursing students from Class 7 were divided into the control group (n=55). The control group was taught with the conventional mode, while the observation group received the "internet plus CDIO" teaching mode. The theoretical performance, critical thinking and satisfaction with teaching were compared between the two groups. Results The observation group scored higher in theoretical performance and case analysis than the control group (P＜ 0.05); the total score of the critical thinking competence scale and the score in the dimensions of truth-seeking, analytical ability, confidence in critical thinking and curiosity were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P＜0.05); and the total score of the teaching effect evaluation scale and the score in the dimensions of teaching preparation, teaching process, teaching ability and teaching effects were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusions The "internet plus CDIO"teaching mode,when applied in Internal Medicine Nursing teaching in higher vocational nursing students,can promote their theoretical performance, critical thinking and satisfaction, which is worth promoting further.