Associative Stigma Related to Psychiatric Nursing Within the Nursing Profession

This study deals with stigmas towards mental illness, individuals with mental illness, psychiatric nurses, and the role of psychiatric nursing within the nursing profession. Responses from 108 psychiatric nurses and 108 non-psychiatric nurses indicated that stigmas towards mental illness, individuals with mental illness, and the role of psychiatric nursing, are more prevalent among non-psychiatric nurses; associations between these stigmas were found among both psychiatric and non-psychiatric nurses. The findings suggest that both psychiatric and non-psychiatric nurses harbor associative stigma related to the practice of psychiatric nursing. Implications are discussed.