Exploration of the Factors Affecting the Choices of Nursing Students Who Choose Psychiatric Nursing as the First and Last Choice

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the factors that affect the choices of nursing students who chose a psychiatric nursing internship. The sample group of the study consisted of 13 students who listed psychiatric nursing as their first choice and 11 students who listed psychiatric nursing as their last choice. Four themes were determined: personal reasons, stigmatization, experiences related to psychiatric nursing, and perception of care. Providing activities in nursing education to reduce stigmatization and increasing the time allocated for psychiatric nursing theory and practice are recommended.

Undergraduate nursing students’ stigma and recovery attitudes during mental health clinical placement: A pre/post‐test survey study

“…To help attract students into the field during placement, positive and competent role models (Günüşen et al . ), supportive preceptors who spend time with them (Happell & Gaskin ), welcoming staff (Happell et al . ), and a positive workplace culture are needed to engage students and promote their interest in working in mental health.…”

“…However, personal experience with mental illness may also negatively influence stigma attitudes and students’ decision to work in the field (Günüşen et al . ). Likewise, clinical placement does not always improve students’ attitudes towards people with mental illness.…”

“…This has been associated with holding more positive attitudes towards mental illness (Günüşen et al . ; Mårtensson et al . ).…”

Why (Not To) Choose Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing

“…Some nurse educators and adminis-trators place more value on certain courses, such as complex adult health, because they are commonly viewed as more essential and rigorous in nature. Students can quickly pick up on these perceptions and decide that psychiatric-mental health nursing is not as celebrated, glamorous, or attractive as other specialties, such as critical care or pediatrics (Günüsen et al, 2017). Students and nurses often remark that psychiatric-mental health nursing is boring or express concern that they will "lose their skills," while failing to recognize the value of interpersonal relationships and therapeutic communication as essential nursing skills (Günüsen et al, 2017;Happell et al, 2019).…”

“…Students can quickly pick up on these perceptions and decide that psychiatric-mental health nursing is not as celebrated, glamorous, or attractive as other specialties, such as critical care or pediatrics (Günüsen et al, 2017). Students and nurses often remark that psychiatric-mental health nursing is boring or express concern that they will "lose their skills," while failing to recognize the value of interpersonal relationships and therapeutic communication as essential nursing skills (Günüsen et al, 2017;Happell et al, 2019). Often, students and nurses are afraid they will get injured in a psychiatric setting, and well-meaning friends and family members may reinforce these fears by expressing their own concerns (Brunero, Buus, & West, 2017).…”