This article analyzes the situation of the nursing educator and the three roles she should carry out: teaching, nursing service and research. Besides these roles are those she should carry out as human being in a social context. The internal and external motivation and the conflicts and feelings that cause an educator to avoid carrying out some of these roles are analyzed. No answer is given for the questions raised; however, it is suggested that an intense, humble study of experience, with self analysis, would help the nursing educator to be more realistic and to come to an equilibrium.