Objective To explore the demand of nursing students with different nationalities and different levels for the order-oriented nursing talent cultivation mode, so as to provide reference for the establishment of order-oriented nursing talent cultivation mode in Xinjiang. Methods From January to April 2017, a total of 801 nursing students from the School of Nursing in Xinjiang Medical University were selected by cluster sampling method and investigated with "the Demand for Order-oriented Nursing Talent Cultivation Mode Questionnaire". Results The two reasons for the nursing students in different nationalities and different levels were the good employment situation (83.77%) and the wishes of the family members (68.29%). There were statistical differences of the willingness of participating in the order-oriented nursing talent cultivation mode among the nursing students with different nationalities and educational background (P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in the choice of the order hospital between the Han nationality undergraduate students and the minority undergraduate students (P>0.05). The difference of the choice of the order hospital between Han nationality junior college students and minority junior college students was statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusions It is urgent to establish a customized nursing talent cultivation mode based on students' employment orientation and training according to the needs of employers, so as to improve the level of medical care service in Xinjiang region.