Background <p>Professional identity in nursing enhances understanding of the profession, acceptance of professional roles, and self-awareness, enhancing patient care overall. Here, we aimed to explore the professional identity of nurses within psychiatric environments.</p> Methods <p>We employed a qualitative descriptive design. Individual and semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses (<i>n</i> = 28) working in psychiatric wards. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.</p> Results <p>Data analysis identified professional identity as a central construct, primarily expressed through ethical excellence, and shaped by internal (professional interaction) and external (cultural threats, organizational and social support) influences.</p> Conclusions <p>This study demonstrates that professional identity is a foundational characteristic of psychiatric nursing, grounded in ethical excellence and shaped by professional and sociocultural influences. Professional identity emerged as a morally grounded and socially negotiated construct, continuously shaped by dynamic interactions within clinical and societal contexts. These findings offer a strategic framework for nursing policymakers to strengthen professional resilience within psychiatric care.</p>