Medical and nursing professions are stressing due to a number of major problems: high work related expectations, inadequate workplace conditions, the severe psychological burden placed on employees by the nature of their job. This study analyses the self-rated general and psychosocial health of female students and professional physicians and nurses related to healthy lifestyle habits and individual behavioural patterns. Method: our cross-section research was carried out among female nursing college students (N = 226), female medical students (N = 117), and among professional nurses and female doctors in hospitals (N = 409). Results: six out of ten staff members mentioned at least one health problem. To the self-rated health (SRH) of students and professional doctors and nursing staff were strongly related psychosomatic symptoms (p<0,001), pessimistic future expectations (p<0,001), perceived difficulties while maintaining the actual partnership (p = 0,001), and physical activity (p<0,001). About 40% (in student surveys 47,0%) said that they did some sports once a week or even more frequently. Smokers were represented with 16,7% (in student surveys 22,9%). Conclusion: results obtained suggest that health is not a highly appreciated value among female students and staff members in the Hungarian health care, moreover, their health-related behaviour is at a substandard level. Their roles as a social model in health promotion are rather questionable, for their insufficient health and risk behaviours. © 2008 Akadémiai Kiadó.