The impact of mental health placement experiences pathway preferences for nursing students

• Diverse educational pathways required to equip students for modern healthcare environments. • Nontraditional clinical placements broaden students understanding and skillsets. • Positive placement exposure can impact future career choices. Rural and remote nursing is continually evolving, with an increasing emphasis for diverse educational pathways to better equip students for the complexities of modern healthcare environments. Nontraditional placements, such as those in community health, research, and other settings, are gaining attention for their potential to broaden students' understanding and skillsets. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of placement experiences in mental health on career pathway preferences for nursing students during their undergraduate training. A cross-sectional study was conducted among second- and third-year nursing students who completed mental health placements of varying types ( N = 50 participants completed the survey, mean age of 32 years) during their training. The study found more than half of the participants reported a positive change in their perception of mental health nursing as a career specialty following their placement. Two key themes emerged: the influence of both university and clinical staff on students' experiences, and a new self-awareness. Suggesting that exposure to mental health nursing from different placement types can shift students' views potentially impacting future career direction. No differences were found between mental health placement types on career pathway preferences during undergraduate nursing training.