Objective To explore the influence of field tracing defect situational simulation teaching on new nurses' critical thinking. Methods From 2015 to 2016, the new nurses from a general Class Ⅲ hospital were selected by cluster sampling method. The 2015 new nurses were assigned as control group (n=75), and the 2016 new nurses were assigned as observation group (n=83). Traditional situational simulation teaching was adopted in the control group, while the field tracing defect situational simulation teaching was applied in the observation group. The effects of training was evaluated with Chinese Version of Critical Thingking Disposition Inventory. Results The results of critical thinking ability of both the groups increased after training (P<0.05). The result of the observation group was (265.87±44.19), which was higher than that of the control group (243.39±37.25), and the difference was statistical significant (t=3.438, P=0.001). Conclusions The field tracing defect situational simulation teaching can effectively improve new nurses' critical thinking ability.