Examining the association between stigmatizing attitudes in nursing students and their desire for a career in mental health nursing: A comparative analysis of generic and accelerated programs in Israel.

Unlabelled: WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Mental health nursing is generally viewed as the least attractive career choice among nursing students. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Studying in the generic nursing program influence higher desire for a career in mental health nursing. Nursing students who have prior experience working in mental health and have provided care to psychiatric patients are more inclined to express a desire to pursue a career in this field WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Nursing students enrolled in the generic program, who have previous work experience in mental health or experience caring for a person with a mental illness, and who have a lower level of stigmatizing attitudes, may constitute the future workforce in mental health nursing.