The transition from student to nurse involves the influence of several different educational aspects. The aim of this study is to elucidate the transition to the role of a nurse, which Swedish nursing students underwent during their 3 years in nursing education, as described from the perspective of their experiences with elderly patients. Interviews were conducted with the students at the end of each academic year, and the students wrote diaries about their clinical education in the second and third years. The narratives were analyzed with a phenomenological-hermeneutic method, and six themes appeared vital for the transition into nursing. The study implies a continuous process during education, involving many aspects of the transition from a student with a genuine and natural interest to carefor others to a registered nurse ready to take up her first position. Cooperation with other team members had a strong influence on the students.
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