The image of nursing is changing. Images of angels in starched skirts and nursing caps eagerly awaiting guidance from physicians has long since been replaced by images of competent, independent men and women of diverse backgrounds. Yet iconic images in nursing may continue to play a role in choosing a career. For example, individuals may choose nursing because they identify with certain nursing role models, such as Florence Nightingale, the lady with the lamp, who cared for soldiers in the Crimean War and changed the status of nurses in the 19th century. Newer images, such as those of competent and caring nurses, can also attract new members to the profession. This study explored students’ motivation(s) for entering nursing and perceptions of the importance of competence and caring in nursing.