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This is a panel study of 148 students between the ages of 16 and 19 who are enrolled in a three year practical nursing education programme. The aim of the study is to investigate the socialisation process into the nursing world by studying specific attitudes towards nursing, elderly people and general life values and beliefs. Another aim is to locate this groups position in the nursing education context. Part of the study is a description of differences between registered and practical nurses. Some of these are their professionalism, their attitudes to knowledge, their respective trade union actions and the development of a hospital culture. The development of a separated and a coordinated education route for registered and practical and nurses is also analysed.

Data for the panel study were collected every year by questionnaires and groups discussions.

The results show that the majority of the students are empathetic towards patients. The majority have also had difficult experiences during their student nursing practice associated with their encounter with death. Two out of five students spend a considerable amount of time with elderly. Most respondents experience a sense of security from the elderly and feel that what they have to say is important. Approximately 30 percent of the students give helping the elderly as the reason for entering the practical nursing programme. However, only about 11 percent want to work with the elderly in their future jobs as practical nurses.

The majority of the students feel that life is meaningful and almost half of them regard their future prospects as bright. The only apparent connection between different attitudes is the one between religious belief and wanting to work with old people. A larger share of religious students are prepared to work in old age care. Summing up, most of the youths enjoy contact with elderly but few want to work with caring for them.