Learning and achieving basic mental health competence in placement studies with the support of a tool: A qualitative study of student nurses’ experiences

Abstract

Background Learning basic mental health care competence is often challenging for the bachelor of science student nurses, and many lack basic mental health care competence to ensure safe and confident mental health care practice. Mental health assessment is an integrated part of this competence. Objective The objective of this study was to explore and describe in depth how student nurses experience learning and achieving basic mental health competence while on mental health placement with the support of a learning tool. Design An explorative and descriptive qualitative design was conducted to gain insight on how student nurses experienced learning basic mental health competence when on placement. Setting A diversity of mental health placement settings in which student nurses were involved with patient care or welfare were approached; general psychiatric wards (n = 2), psychiatric ward for elderly people (n = 1), community mental health in-patient facilities (n = 2) and unconventional placements in the community (n = 9). Unconventional placements are a diversity of non-clinical service contexts. Participants The participants comprised student nurses in their 3rd and final year while on mental health placement. Potential participants received information from course coordinators, the online learning platform, and from teachers in plenary. Using purposive sampling, 14 student nurses were recruited. Methods Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted online and in person at two campuses of one university in Norway between August 2020 and December 2021. The interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed as described by Braun and Clarke. Results Students expressed insecurity in a new clinical context. They engaged in new learning situations and realized the diversity of nursing practice. Unconventional placements were described as challenging contexts for learning basic mental health care competence. Conclusions This qualitative study provided insight into how student nurses experience learning mental health assessment, and gaining relational, communicative, and ethical competence while on placement. Students revealed their insecurities and challenges in learning in a new context. Awareness of clinical learning opportunities on placement when preparing student nurses to learn basic mental health competence may help improve their confidence.