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This study was undertaken as a cross-sectional survey to analyse the smoking prevalence, attitudes and beliefs among 385 female nursing students at the University of the Sunshine Coast (response rate: 82.5%). An anonymous, self-reporting questionnaire was used to collect the data. The overall prevalence of current smoking was 18.2%, with a further 15.6% classified as ex-smokers. The smoking prevalence among nursing students was higher than the general population. The limited smoking-related content in the nursing curriculum appeared to have minimal effect on the smoking prevalence, attitudes and beliefs of the students in each year of study. The smoking status of the students may have an influence on the students’ attitudes and beliefs towards the role of nurses in smoking cessation and their perceptions of smoking policy. A large proportion of the nursing students supported either a total ban of smoking on campus or a restriction to designated areas. The study results suggested that smoking remained a common behaviour among nursing students. Smokers were less likely to perceive there was a role for nurses in helping people quit smoking. A more comprehensive integration of smoking-related content and health promotion training into the nursing curriculum, along with targeted cessation interventions for nursing students who smoked may decrease the smoking prevalence and positively influence the attitudes and beliefs of nursing students.