A quantitative and qualitative retrospective study was carried out about career choice, motivation and identification in the Nurse profession among graduate professionals and graduate students at UFS (Federal University of Sergipe) who called in from 1992/1 through 1997/1, identifying facilities or difficulties they have found along this process. It consists of documental research in the official lists of the Institution, and of semi-structured interviews with, at least, 20% of the population. Results showed that only 31.5% students had graduated over this period, the other ones ranging from 5 to 7 years studying in the program. We found that 76.92% of them would prefer alternative programs, and difficulties were found either in knowledge or identification with the profession prior its start, which came from stereotypes and cultural taboos.
career choice; motivation; identification; Nursing
