Breaking the Stigma in Mental Health Nursing through High-Fidelity Simulation Training.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Mental Health Care
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Social stigma towards mental health patients is prevalent among nursing students.
• This stigma can negatively impact the quality of care for individuals with mental illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nursing students' perceptions of caring for patients with severe mental disorders.
• To assess the impact of simulated clinical case experience on these perceptions.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative study involving 39 interviews.
• Exploration of student expectations and perceptions before simulation.
• Analysis of perceptions regarding clinical simulation's utility after training.

Main Results:

• Before simulation, students perceived cases as complex, lacked training, and exhibited fear and insecurity, reflecting stigma.
• After simulation, students positively valued its usefulness for building confidence and overcoming stigma.

Conclusions:

• High-fidelity simulation provides a safe environment for nursing students to engage with mental health conditions.
• Simulation training helps students confront fears, normalize mental disorders, and recognize the influence of prejudice on clinical judgment.