Introduction The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuity of care on self‐management ability and quality of life (QOL) in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods One hundred patients were randomly assigned to the observation group and the control group. In the observation group, patients received a 12‐month continuity of care. In the control group, patients were given with routine nursing. Evaluate the patients' self‐management ability and QOL between two groups 1 week before discharge and 6 and 12 months outpatient MHD. Results Observation group had higher Hemodialysis Self‐Management Instrument (HD‐SMI) scores and Kidney Disease Quality of Life‐Short Form (KDQOL‐SF™) scores than control group at 6 and 12 months outpatient MHD. But patients in observation group had a much lower systolic blood pressure than those in control group at 12 months outpatient MHD. Conclusions Our study suggested that continuity of care in the form of online education, telephone visit, and outpatient visit could improve self‐management ability and QOL of patients undergoing MHD.