Background Preregistration nursing students frequently seek employment as healthcare support workers (HCSWs). However, little is known about their experience of alternating between these two roles.

Aim To explore the experiences of preregistration nursing students working as healthcare support workers.

Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three preregistration nursing students working part-time as HCSWs in the NHS. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings Analysis of the interview data produced the overarching theme of ‘walking the tightrope’. The overarching theme contained four subthemes: ‘preparing to get on the tightrope’; ‘balancing on the tightrope’; ‘having the stamina to stay on the tightrope’; and ‘preparing to get off the tightrope’.

Conclusion Nursing students gained experience and confidence while working as HCSWs, but were challenged by the limitations and demands of the role.