This paper describes a report on the study carried out in Zambia on the attitudes and opinions of the third year nursing students towards studying and the hindrances experienced in the process of learning. A semi-structured questionnaire was completed by 162 student nurses from four schools of nursing. The results of the study indicate that students' interest in subjects was related to the way they were planned and presented. The study also suggests that studying by students can be more effective where time and attention are given to students' activities, and it is important for teachers to clarify the relationship between theory and practice in subjects which have both these components. Clarification is also required of the methods used by students to apply theory to practice. The author concludes that there is a need for carefully planned objectives and learning strategies which are of interest to students and that it is also important to involve students themselves when reviewing curricula.