Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Mental Health Care
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Growing global mental health needs necessitate increased nursing workforce.
• Nursing students often hold negative views, leading to career path rejection.
• Clinical immersions are identified as key to improving perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore undergraduate nursing students' learning experiences during mental health clinical immersion.
• To understand the meaning attributed to the experience, negotiation processes, and future projections.
• To identify factors influencing career choices in mental health nursing.

Main Methods:

• Interpretive phenomenological analysis of semi-structured interviews.
• Study involved eleven undergraduate nursing students.
• Grounded in Parse's humanbecoming theory.

Main Results:

• Identified the significance of nursing role models in shaping student perceptions.
• Highlighted factors contributing to career rejection, including perceived risks of aggression.
• Explored students' meaning-making and self-projection beyond the immersion experience.

Conclusions:

• Clinical immersion experiences are crucial for mental health nursing education.
• Addressing negative perceptions and perceived risks is vital for recruitment.
• Supportive environments and role models can positively influence career choices.