Background <p>Psychiatric nurses in China face high psychological and occupational strain. Understanding the factors influencing their mental health is essential. This study aimed to determine the positive rate of psychological distress among Chinese psychiatric nurses and to examine the associations of psychological resilience and other psychosocial factors with psychological distress.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2024 to January 2025. Using an online survey, 436 psychiatric nurses from six hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China, were recruited. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Chi-square tests, Spearman correlation, and multivariate logistic regression were employed for analysis.</p> Results <p>Of 436 nurses invited, 412 provided valid responses (response rate: 94.5%). The positive screening rate for psychological distress (GHQ-12 score ≥ 3) was 38.38%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that among Chinese psychiatric nurses, higher psychological resilience (OR = 0.948, 95% CI: 0.931–0.965, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) was associated with lower odds of psychological distress. In contrast, more frequent weekly night shifts (≥ 3 vs. ≤ 2; OR = 2.452, 95% CI: 1.212–4.959, <i>p</i> = 0.013) and poorer self-rated health status (per level increase; OR = 1.711, 95% CI: 1.274–2.299, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) were associated with a greater odds of psychological distress.</p> Conclusion <p>Psychological resilience, night shift frequency, and self-rated health status are significantly associated with psychological distress among Chinese psychiatric nurses. Interventions aimed at building resilience, optimizing work schedules, and promoting health may help protect their mental well-being.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p>