Nursing students' perceptions of their first mental health placement

The way in which the theory and practice of mental health nursing is presented to students is of particular importance, especially at a time when recruitment into the profession is falling. This study sought to examine how nursing students experience their first mental health placement. A pre-/post-test design was used with a standardized instrument (Attitude Towards Psychiatry questionnaire) to assess the influence of their mental health placements on nursing students' attitudes towards mental health nurses, mental health nursing practice and education and theoretical aspects of mental health nursing. Results suggest that the placements were effective in improving students' regard in each of these areas. Though no generalizable conclusions can be inferred from this study some interesting insights are provided by nursing students into their perceptions of current mental health nursing practice.