Introduction: contemporary nursing practice requires a constant updating of knowledge, especially in regard to research results presented in academic or scientific papers. Context: as part of the university curriculum in nursing, students must develop their skills in understanding and evaluating research evidence. Objectives: the aim of this study was to explore students’ appreciation and the effects of a new teaching approach, the use of a journal club within a nursing research course, with undergraduate nursing students. Method: as part of a qualitative exploratory descriptive design, a questionnaire with open-ended questions about their appreciation and perception of the effects of the journal club was administered to the participating students (n = 41) at the end of the course. Results: participation in the journal club appears to have provided an introduction to the scientific area of nursing, to have improved several skills related to the evaluation of scientific articles, and has increased students’ motivation to adopt evidence-based practice. Conclusion: the use of a journal club within an undergraduate research course in nursing was a relevant teaching method that the undergraduate nursing students found highly interesting.