Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between depressive symptom and occupational stress among nurses and to improve their physical and mental health.Methods Across-sectional study was conducted during the period May-July 2008.The study population was 2 106 nurses from twenty hospitals in Liaoning province.Depressive symptoms were measured with Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale(CES-D)and occupational stress was measured by Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised edition(OSI-R).Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between depressive symptom and occupational stress.Results The prevalence of depressive symptom among the nurses was 55.7%.In logistic regression analysis,work overload(odds ratioOR=3.00),work conflict(OR=1.37),work maladjustment(OR=1.58),low social support(OR=1.54),and low rational coping(OR=1.35)significantly related to depressive symptom(P<0.01).Conclusion Nurses in Liaoning province are at the high risk of depressive symptom and depressive symptom is significantly related to occupational stress.