The authors aim at investigating the knowledge on mental diseases and treatments among nursing students that are entering the job market. In This descriptive study A Likert-like scale of opinion measurement, with 56 statements related to the topic of the study was applied. The responses of the 38 students who participated were analyzed and grouped in four categories: - Patient, family and care, - Psychiatric policies and care, - Conceptions on the disease and the patient, - Nursing care and treatments. Results showed that the subjects believe that not all social problems and diseases have to be treated at the psychiatric institutions since there are other alternatives to solute these problems. They also pointed out the importance of family participation and professionals' development in order to improve the quality of the care.
nursing; mental disorders; psychiatric care