Undergraduates' Perceptions of Their Psychiatric Practicum: Positive and Negative Factors in Inpatient and Community Experience

To identify factors contributing to positive or negative undergraduate experiences, often cited as influencing student selection of practice area, 38 baccalaureate students were queried about their inpatient/community psychiatric practicum. Positive, negative and potentially helpful factors were derived from the themes of their responses. Positive factors included staff's professionalism, enthusiasm and acceptance of students; diversity of learning opportunities; and direct involvement with patients. Negative factors related to nursing staff performance. Potentially helpful factors were those promoting goodness of fit between program expectations for students, characteristics of the clinical setting and modeling of psychiatric nursing career options.