Background: The nursing students’ professional role must be established before graduation, and therefore the majority of Swedish nursing students perform the National Clinical Final Examination (NCFE), a national theoretical and practical exam. Aim and objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the students’ opinions and feelings for the forthcoming final practical part of the NCFE. Methods: The study is based on interviews with 18 nursing students in their final semester of their study programme. The interviews were analysed by content analysis. Analysis and Results: Three themes based on the interviews were identified, namely; Lack of emotional and practical control, Attainment of theoretical and practical knowledge, and Attainment of interpersonal skills. In their preparation, the students tried to balance fear with competence. The study showed that the students had more focused on the assessment itself, than on the aim of the exam, i.e. to demonstrate that the students had the skills to fill the role of a fully gratified nurse. Recommendations: By helping and supporting the students to develop their awareness of their own theoretical knowledge and practical skills, as well as their emotional and interpersonal skills by using different teaching methodologies, the students may handle the stressful nature of the national exam better and hopefully overcome their main concerns.