A cross sectional study on the relationship between nursing students' perception of clinical learning environment and the willingness to care for older adult patients

•Learning environments in nursing education have a significant impact on students' willingness in caring for the older adults.•Improving students' understanding of the clinical learning environment can guide them in developing individual and professional talents and abilities.•Effective curriculum planning and providing a standard theoretical and clinical learning environment, can improve students' perception of learning environment and, of course, increase their willingness to care for the older adults.