Correspondence:

Impressions of nursing before exposure to the field Aims and objectives. This paper reports on non-mature general nursing students’ perceptions of nursing as a career prior to their first clinical placement. Background. It is widely recognised that the first clinical practice experience serves a dual role, that of validating students ’ choice of career and shaping their perceptions of nursing. This study sought to explore 23 first year non-mature (<23 years) nursing students ’ perceptions of nursing as a career prior to their first clinical exposure. The students accessed the programme via two different modes of recruitment. Method. This qualitative descriptive study used focus group interviews as a means of data collection. Interviews were held within 10 weeks of entry into nursing. Data were analysed using the five stages of framework analysis. Ethical approval was obtained. Results. Mode of recruitment did not influence students ’ perceptions of nursing. The students unanimously identified caring as the essence of nursing. They also acknowledged the role of the media in shaping theirs and society’s perception o