Purpose: This study investigated whether nursing students’ awareness of infectious diseases shaped their career identityduring COVID-19 using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Methods: 130 third- and fourth-year nursingstudents were surveyed on risk perception, major satisfaction, clinical practice satisfaction, and career identity. Data wereanalyzed using correlation and regression analyses. Qualitative data collected from 14 interviews were analyzedthematically to elaborate quantitative results. Results: Risk perception was moderately high (3.69), while it was relativelylow for career identity (2.81). Career identity was positively correlated with major satisfaction (r=.48, p<.001) and clinicalpractice satisfaction (r=.47, p<.001), and they explained 32% of the variance. Risk perception was not directly relatedto career identity but positively associated with major satisfaction (r=.35, p<.001). Thematic analysis yielded threethemes-“experience of anxiety in unpredictable situations,” “expansion of understanding of nurses’ roles and expertise,”and “internalization of responsibility and career identity as future nurses”-These themes illustrated how clinical exposureduring the pandemic heightened students’ sense of responsibility and clarified their vocational goals. Conclusion:Students sustained a heightened awareness of infection risks; yet, their career identity depended primarily on academicand clinical experiences. Enhancing infection-control training and supportive practice environments may strengthen theirprofessional identity.