For many students, the most stressful time of the academic year is the end of semester examination period (Yamashita et al., 2012). The preparations are accompanied by stress, which may have negative health effects (Cohen et al., 2016). To reduce stress and to improve concentration and memory, students of different faculties use products containing caffeine, taurine or glucose (Mahoney et al., 2019, Picard-Masson et al., 2017, Prada et al., 2020), food supplements (Lieberman et al., 2015) and substances with nootropic and psychostimulatory effects (Sabbe et al., 2022). Among these are drugs used in mild dementia or after stroke (piracetam, vinpocetin), whose effectiveness in enhancing cognitive functions is disputable (Fessel, 2019) and the labels do not recommend them in such cases. The use of modafinil is also controversial, recommended, among others, for hypersomnia in shift workers (Modafinil, 2007) or methylphenidate, which is important in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents (Methylphenidate, 2017). Amphetamine also has nootropic and psychostimulant effects, which has little medical use, in opposition to a high risk of abuse and associated adverse effects (Lappin and Sara, 2019; Amphetamine, 2016). Despite the progress of knowledge about the harmful effects of drugs and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle in the media, students continue to use alcohol, tobacco or marijuana, pointing to such benefits as: reduction of stress, pleasure, relaxation and greater ease of making social contacts (Stanford University Institutional Research & Decision Support). They also use dietary supplements which are believed to support the functioning of the nervous system, although their effectiveness and safety are uncertain (Directive EC, 2002; Spencer et al., 2006). A special group of students are nursing students, who receive knowledge about disease prevention from university (healthy diet, appropriate lifestyle, avoiding addictions, rational pharmacotherapy, etc.). Greater awareness of dangers does not always result in avoidance of poor health choices. The reports of some studies have revealed quite the opposite trend, which can be seen in the example of smoking by nursing students in a systematic review written by Smith (2007). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, motivation and effects of products and substances used by nursing students during exam periods to improve cognitive functions, to reduce stress or for relax.