M. Curr. / Mental health challenges are a worldwide phenomenon, and more people are experiencing these challenges which are related to the life style and psychological stressors facing them. Addressing this burden is a challenge to health care providers, as some are influenced by their perceptions about mental illness in facing the demands made be society. Registered nurses who are not trained in psychiatric nursing do not have the appropriate background information or skill of how to cope with patients with mental health challenges even if they have undergone an introduction into nursing psychology at college. This increases their fears and anxieties when having to interact with these patients. The aim of this study is thus to explore the experiences of registered nurses in interaction with patients with mental health challenges so as to be able to formulate and describe guidelines to facilitate the registered nurses mental health.