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December 23, 2019

Nursing students’ experience of the mental health setting as a clinical learning environment: Findings from a national study

Key Points

This research aims to explore nursing students' perceptions of their clinical learning experiences in mental health settings.
Secondary analysis of a national cross-sectional study in Italy.
Involved 9607 nursing students from 95 three-year baccalaureate nursing programs.
Used survey data to assess student perceptions of learning quality in MH and other clinical settings.
Students in MH settings rated their learning environment significantly higher (P = .008) than those in other settings.
Specific areas of higher scores included tutorial quality, learning opportunities, and overall learning environment quality.
MH settings provided more opportunities for learning due to less pressing rhythms, enhancing competence and desire to work in mental health.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To explore nursing students' perceptions of their clinical learning experiences in the mental health (MH) setting. DESIGN AND METHODS: Secondary analysis of data collected within an Italian national cross-sectional study involving students (N = 9607) who were attending 95 3-year baccalaureate nursing programs. FINDINGS: Students in MH settings scored the quality of the learning environment overall significantly higher (P = .008) compared to those who rotated in other clinical settings, specifically with respect to (a) the tutorial strategies' quality; (b) the learning opportunities; and (c) the learning environment's quality. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: MH settings emerged as a worthy clinical environment where less pressing rhythms allow preceptors to provide students more learning opportunities that, in turn, affect the perceived degree of competence achieved and the desire to work in these contexts after graduation.

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