The attitudes of undergraduate nursing students towards mental health nursing: a systematic review

Abstract

Many nursing students regard mental health nursing as the least preferred career option. Education, via classroom teaching and clinical placements, seems to engender more positive attitudes towards mental health nursing. There is no evidence, however, that changing student attitudes results in more graduates beginning careers in mental health nursing. REFERENCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The constancy of negative attitudes to mental health nursing over time suggests the focus of research should shift. Clinicians have the capacity to promote a more positive view of mental health nursing. This requires further exploration.

Is there a crisis in inpatient mental health care?

“…Previous reports suggest that students are concerned and anxious about entering the mental health setting (Farrell & Carr 1996;Fisher 2002). Evidence consistently show that for those seeking a career in nursing, mental health is one of the least preferred areas (Happell and Gaskin 2013). For this reason, the mental health profession need to find ways of overcoming this challenge to enable it to recruit well qualified enthusiastic people.…”

Grupos De Pesquisa Na Enfermagem Brasileira Em Saúde Mental E Psiquiatria

“…Um estudo realizado com ingressantes de um curso de graduação de enfermagem demonstrou que há grande resistência por parte dos alunos em relação ao aprendizado com o doente mental, mostrado por valores e sentimentos estigmatizantes, medo, receio, temor, dó, pena, preconceito e, também, o difícil processo de compreensão, aceitação e manejo (13) . Outro estudo concluiu que as consequências dessas atitudes de estigma e preconceito podem impactar na escolha da área profissional a ser seguida, demonstrando que a saúde mental e psiquiatria possuem menor preferência da enfermagem para a potencial carreira profissional (14) . O maior contingente de grupos de pesquisa encontra-se nas Instituições de Ensino Públicas, já que possuem maior incentivo a programas de iniciação cientifica e pós-graduação.…”

The Nursing Student's Attitude Toward Psychiatric Patients: Is Changeable After Completing the Theoretical and Clinical Course.

“…Many studies showed that undergraduate nursing students have negative attitudes toward psychiatric and mental health nursing as a career, that make psychiatric nursing unpopular and not viewed as a favorable career choice (11) . Attitudes towards psychiatry and a career choice in psychiatry have many factors including demographics, social variables, personality and concern for the mentally ill (12&13) .…”

“…This route didn't differ a cross socio economic classes and not affected by educational background, thus reflect the pervasiveness of this belief in the society. However, Happell & Gaskin (11) found that psychiatry component of the nursing course improved the attitude of the students toward discipline.…”