Effect of contact on nursing students' attitudes to patients

Shortly before and shortly after they went on district nurse and mental handicap placements the attitudes of university nursing students to elderly people, people who are disabled and people with a mental handicap were assessed. Before the placements the students had a more favourable attitude towards elderly people and towards those who are disabled than towards those with a mental handicap. After the placements their attitudes towards those with a disability had improved. These findings are discussed with reference to the character of the placements.