The purposes of the study were: (1) to describe the professional ideologies of specialists in psychiatric and mental health nursing as expressed through opinions and attitudes related to mental health policy alternatives, and (2) to describe the relationships between characteristics of the subjects and beliefs about mental health policy issues. Theoretical bases of the investigation were drawn from two major sources. Concepts from the sociology of knowledge were applied to understanding the development of professional ideologies through social process. Development of public policy was described through the application of systems theory. Psychiatric and mental health nursing was seen as developing to a significant degree out of government mental health policy and now concerned with providing input into further policy development.

Members of the American Nurses' Association Council of Specialists in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (N = 403) completed a questionnaire developd for the study. The questionnaire consisted of 73 items to assess beliefs and opinions on mental health policy issues and questions related to respondent characteristics. Opinion items were factor-analyzed to identify belief patterns of the respondents. Four factors were identified and named according to their content: Mental Health Systems and Services; Locus of Responsibility; Medical Model Orientation; and Attitudes and Ethics. Respondents took a conservative position on expansion of publicly-supported mental health care, but considered government responsible for providing services. Some aspects of a medical model approach to mental health were endorsed. Beliefs identified with community mental health ideology were supported.

Discriminant analyses were carried out with the opinion items as independent variables and demographic and professional characteristics of respondents as dependent variables. It was found that significant differences of opinion existed between subgroups on all the characteristics examined. In setting policy agendas and professional development goals, psychiatric and mental health nurses should be aware of both the shared core of beliefs and concerns and the significant differences of opinion on specific issues which exist within the discipline.