This paper describes an epidemiological examination of suicide statistics of 623 women in four U.S. states for the years 1975-1979, who had been employed in highly traditional, moderately traditional, & nontraditional occupations. Women, in general, had higher suicide rates in moderately traditional occupations. Rates were lowest in highly traditional occupations. Race-specific analyses showed that the occupational category with the highest proportion of white women was the nontraditional one. Nonwhite women had the highest proportion of suicides in highly traditional occupations. Implications for nursing are discussed. (28 refs)