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Objective: To investigate the stress of role change in fresh nursing graduates working in a hospital in Macau. Methods: A survey was conducted by using convenience sampling amongst 74 graduates of Years 2002 and 2003 in a nursing college with Role Stress and Role Ambiguity in New Nursing Graduates and Scale of Occupational Stress. Result: Mean of new nurses in role ambiguity is 2.67, role stress 2.52, occupational stress 2.64, all of which display insignificant and below average stress level in new nurses' role ambiguity, role stress and occupational stress. However, subjects' own choice of wards is not significantly related to the stress level mentioned above whilst those working in OPD, ER, Surgical, Critical Care or Specialist Departments undergo greater stress, because of role ambiguity, than those in departments of General Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics and Pediatrics. Most of the subjects tend to choose positive means to reduce stress. Conclusion: The Study shows that fresh graduates have undergone certain stress related to role change. It is suggested that management should take into consideration building up a comprehensive recruitment lead-in programme, favorable clinical supervision and instruction system, effective stress monitoring and teaching of coping skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]