BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate the pain management knowledge of nursing students. MATERIAL and METHODS The sample of this study that was undertaken in descriptive design consisted of nursing department students of whom language of education was Turkish and English. To collect data, the study used a data collection form that was developed by the researchers between January and February 2018. In the evaluation of data, mean value, standard deviation, numbers, frequency analysis, Kolmogorov– Smirnov test, Levene test, Parametric hypothesis tests, t test, variance analysis, and Tukey test were used. RESULTS The sample consisted of 728 nursing students who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Of the participants, 66.76% were female, 32.14% were in the age-group of 22-23, and 72.80% education language was Turkish. The study found a statistically significant difference between the scores of their general knowledge relating to pain, pharmacological, and nonpharmacological methods. The students need to receive the most knowledge in the field of the pharmacological management of pain. CONCLUSION The study results show, based on the overall score averages the students achieved from statements regarding pain management, that they have medium level of knowledge. The study suggests that training programs should be designed and sustained to address the students’ knowledge gap in respect of pain management and enhance their educational level.