Nursing Students’ Attitudes about Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe Masters entry nursing students' attitudes about psychiatric mental health clinical experiences; preparedness to care for persons with mental illness; students' perceived stigmas and stereotypes; and plans to choose mental health nursing as a career. A 31-item survey was administered to pre-licensure graduate nursing students who were recruited from a Masters entry nursing program from a university in a large city in the Midwestern US. Results indicated that clinical experiences provide valuable experiences for nursing practice, however, fewer students think that these experiences prepare them to work as a psychiatric mental health nurse and none plan to pursue careers as psychiatric mental health nurses. The findings support conclusions from other studies that increasing the amount of time in the clinical setting and adding specific content to the curriculum, particularly content related to the importance of psychiatric mental health nursing and the effects of stigma, may assist the profession's efforts to recruit and retain psychiatric mental health nurses. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of these strategies and to identify the best ways to implement them.

Can a clinical placement influence stigma? An analysis of measures of social distance

“…It is important that students understand the impact of stigma to ensure that they can provide the highest possible health care for consumers (Hunter et al, 2015).…”

Encerrado a oscuras: significado de vivir con esquizofrenia para diagnosticados y sus cuidadores, Medellín-Colombia

“…El avance en la comprensión de la percepción sobre vivir con esquizofrenia, y lo que esto conlleva, permite humanizar cada intervención por parte del profesional de enfermería (17), ya que puede sensibilizar la práctica y la gestión del cuidado, y es importante para evidenciar la forma en la que se concibe y se lleva a cabo la atención, visualizando con ello mecanismos para innovar las acciones del personal de salud en pro de la mejora de la calidad de vida de las personas diagnosticadas (18).…”

Effects of the Psychiatric Nursing Course on Students' Attitudes Towards Mental Illnesses, Perceptions of Psychiatric Nursing and Career Choices

“…Mental health and psychiatric nursing education shows variations between countries. 16,25 Mental health and psychiatric nursing was first included in undergraduate education programs in Turkey in 1964. After the start of academic nursing and increases in the number of academic staff in nursing, nursing education started to include psychiatric nursing concepts and information rather than medical information.…”

“…15,16 Strengthening positive attitudes towards mental health in nursing education may contribute to the retention of nurses in this field. 4,8 It has been reported that exposure to theory and clinical experience in psychiatric nursing affect attitudes towards psychiatric patients positively, contribute to their career choices and increase their interest in mental health.…”