Introduction: During an educational course, evaluation is one of the challenges of nursing students. Including students in the evaluation process is one of the methods for validation of evaluation. This study aimed to compare self and instructor evaluation of pediatric nursing trainees in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 28 junior nursing students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences attending a pediatric internship program were chosen by census method in 2015. Data collection tools included demographic questionnaire and students’ qualifying skills questionnaire. The evaluation form was completed by instructors and the students themselves at the end of the day and continued till the end of the course (day 10). Data analysis was performed with descriptive and analytical statistics including repeated measures and Pearson’s coefficient using SPSS version 18.

Results: Means and standard deviations of the total score of instructors' evaluation and students’ self-evaluation were 84.01 ± 8.81 and 89.74 ± 6.17, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the mean score of evaluation by instructors and students’ self-evaluation (paired t-test, P = 0.161).

Conclusions: The results of instructors' evaluation and that of students were similar. This may indicate that students can judge their own performance and can realize both weak and potent points of themselves. Thus, the use of this method along with the other method is recommended to reduce students’ evaluation challenges.