A sample of nurses (N=183) enrolled in a School of Nursing's master degree program was randomly assigned to read one of six vignettes about a patient who differed only in terms of diagnosis and lifestyle. Possible diagnoses were Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS acquired by a hemophiliac through blood therapy, and leukemia; possible lifestyles were homosexual and heterosexual. The nurses evaluated the patient on two subscales, one involving judgments of victims and the other concerning willingness to socially interact. Multivariate analyses of variance indicated that only the main effect for diagnosis was significant on both subscales (p<.001). The hemophiliac AIDS patient and the leukemia patient were judged significantly less responsible for and less deserving of their illnesses than was the AIDS patient (p<.001). However, the hemophiliac AIDS patient and the AIDS patient were considered equally dangerous; both were rated as significantly more dangerous than was the leukemia patient (p<.001). Both categories of AIDS patients were stigmatized (as compared to the leukemia patient) in terms of certain social interactions. (Author/NB)