The process of thesis started in January 2015. Our title of thesis is Attraction of Elderly Care Experienced by Nurse Students. We chose this topic because it is important and recent. Elderly care also stimulates conversation and people have many opinions about it. Thesis was made in cooperation with Oulu University of Applied Sciences.

The purpose of the study was to describe the attraction of elderly care and find out which issues have an influence on it from the students’ perspective. The aim of the study was to develop education concerning elderly care that registered nurse students would be more interested in elderly care. We also wanted to give development ideas for education and working life.

The thesis is a qualitative study. Data was collected by Webropol online survey and analysis software. The target group was the third year registered nurse students from Oulu University of Applied Sciences. Eighteen students answered to the survey. The data were analyzed by content analysis.

Results revealed that certain employment increases the attraction of elderly care. Also varied working tasks and positive atmosphere had a significant influence to that. Dignity of elderly care and supportive attitude of education were experienced as issues that increase the attraction.

Reasons which decreased the attraction of elderly care were that students had already an interest in some other orientation studies. Also negative prejudices towards elderly care, hurry, hard work and lack of resources were the reasons why students did not choose the orientation alternative of elderly care. Results of the study may be used to develop the education of nurses and the attraction of workplace.