Objective:To explore disorienting dilemmas during postgraduate study period experienced by postgraduates with master of nursing specialist who participated in the national postgraduate entrance examination and provide a basis for teaching reform based on transformative learning theory.Methods:Using the purposive sampling method and the maximum difference method, 23 full-time masters of nursing specialist who participated in the national postgraduate entrance examination from 3 universities of Jiangsu Province were selected as the research objects from March to June 2019. The descriptive qualitative research method was used to conduct semi-structured interviews, and the traditional content analysis method was used to analyze the interview data.Results:Four themes of disorienting dilemmas of masters of nursing specialist were extracted: the expected hypothesis of challenges of new environment in course learning, a gap between scientific research ability and training target, adjustment of self-positioning in clinical practice and insufficient preparations for graduation of master of nursing specialist.Conclusions:Master of nursing specialist have disorienting dilemmas in course study, scientific research, clinical practice and graduation preparation, and nursing educators can use this as a trigger point to carry out teaching reform based on transformative learning theory.