The aim of this study was to elucidate the actual state of nursing students' attainment level of the perineal washing technique by means of self-evaluation after the completion of adult and elderly nursing practices. The instructors checked nursing students' perineal washing technique, performed for patients during the above practices. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 86 third-year nursing students. More than 90% of students replied that "I have attained an appropriate

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... el of perineal washing" and "I have attained an acceptable level of perineal washing." Thus, almost all of the students attained a certain level when they graduated from the nursing school. With respect to reasons for attaining a certain level, the following five categories were extracted : "formation of readiness," "establishment of care according to individual patient," "opportunity for receiving instructions," "establishment of self-confident care," and "sense of security because of being watched." In terms of the reasons for not attaining a certain level, the following three categories were extracted : "technically unsure," "anxiety about care according to individual patient," and "insufficient experience in care for patients other than specified patients." Being watched and guided by instructors were important factors for nursing students with insufficient experience and knowledge to perform perineal washing for patients, who were under various conditions, and these factors greatly affected students' self-evaluation of the attainment level of the perineal washing technique. In the future, we must positively adopt the exercises of the perineal washing technique in different situations, including perineal washing for female patients by male students and vice versa.