Accessible Summary What is known on the subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the implications for practice Introduction Aim Method Results Discussion Implications for Practice Adult psychiatric services typically focus on the mental health needs of the client but they do not support his or her parenting role. Many authors highlight the importance of a non‐judgmental approach when providing support and care to clients with mental illness who are parents. Assessments frequently focus on the negative aspects while the strengths of these families were often overlooked. There is a lack of scientific literature exploring nurses' experiences when caring for parents with mental illness and their families. Trust is the basis that helps clients to be open to receiving care and answering parenting‐related questions. Therefore, without adequate professional‐client trust, some care and interventions addressed to parents with mental illness could be poorly received by the client. Tronto's phases of care facilitated the collection of data and exploration of mental health nurses' experiences of care. Mental health nurses should be aware of the potential needs of these families, as described in the scientific literature, so they can include them in their assessments. They also should consider the need to individualize each care since each situation of a family with parental mental illness is unique. Mental health nurses must take the person's environment into account (family, social and political aspects and different forms of stigma) since all these factors may influence how parents with mental illness receive and provide care. Many authors highlight the importance of a non‐judgmental approach when providing care to parents with mental illness. However, assessments frequently focus on the negative aspects while the strengths of such families were often overlooked.To explore the lived experiences of mental health nurses who care for clients who are parents.We conducted a qualitative phenomenological study. The main data collection technique was in‐depth interviews. Data were analysed according to Colaizzi model, subsequently, the main categories that arised were compared and related to the five phases of Tronto's care.The main categories identified from the analysis of the interviews were: (1) individualized care, (2) continuity of care, (3) psychoeducation and counselling, (4) trust and (5) context of the client.Trust is the basis that helps parents with mental illness to be open to receiving care and answering parenting‐related questions. Without trust, some interventions could be poorly received by the client.Mental health nurses should be aware of the potential needs of these families, so they can include them in their assessments. They also should consider the need to individualize each care since each situation of a family with parental mental illness is unique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]