Table 3 The subcategories and categories of the study

Forced choice of working in psychiatric wards

Inadequate professional skills for psychiatric care practice

Inappropriate work conditions

Lack of the required professional knowledge for working in psychiatric wards

Colleagues’ negative attitudes towards psychiatric nurses

Negative public attitude towards psychiatric nurses

Families’ negative attitudes towards psychiatric nurses

Negative experiences of psychiatric nursing from their studentship period

Fear over patient assault

Fear of patients

Fear due to unfamiliarity with patients and their conditions