Objective To gain an in-depth understanding of the motivations and experiences of vocational nursing students participating in vocational skills competitions. Methods Through purposeful sampling，semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 vocational nursing students from three vocational colleges in Hunan Province who participated in the 2024 Hunan Provincial Vocational College Skills Competition between December 2023 and January 2024. The interview data were analyzed using the Colaizzi seven-step analysis method. Results A total of three themes and ten sub-themes were extracted：internal and external motivations leading to active participation （desire for self-improvement；attraction to exemption from entrance exams for further education；inspiration from role models and peers）；facing multiple challenges and difficulties during preparation（high psychological pressure，easy emotional instability；lack of participation in decision-making；insufficient access to timely and effective psychological counseling and positive feedback）；gaining benefits and insights from participation （increased self-confidence，professional identity and career orientation；learned emotional management and self-motivation；enhanced self-efficacy；gained friendship and learned gratitude）. Conclusion The motivations of vocational nursing students participating in vocational skills competitions are influenced by both internal and external factors. They face multiple pressures during preparation and gain growth through participating. Nursing educators should provide comprehensive support for students，with particular attention to their mental health；strengthen team building，and continuously optimize competition training models.