Student and pupil nurses (64), from an initial sample of 117, completed repertory grids questionnaires and interviews on the first day of training, at 4 and 18 months. Measures of identification attraction and ideal/actual congruence were derived from the grids. Trainees were found to become more identified with and attracted to medical roles during training and less identified with and attracted to lower‐status non‐medical roles such as factory worker. Ideal/ actual congruence with medical roles other than trainee also increased. Some measures derived from the grids related to trainee ‘wastage’ and to satisfaction with the h