Exploring the Impact of Psychiatric Nursing Placement on Under-graduate Nursing Students' Attitudes toward Mental Illness

Abstract

This study examined the impact of psychiatric nursing placement on student nurses' attitudes toward mental illness. A within group pre-post test quasi-experimental design was employed using 112 fourth year undergraduate nursing students of a Nigerian University undergoing psychiatric nursing posting at a psychiatric hospital, recruited through convenience sampling. The Attitude to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) was administered at the beginning and end of the 8 weeks posting. Paired samples t-test analysis showed a significant reduction in the belief that mental illness could damage one’s career, t(111) = -5.44, p<.001; increased comfort about being in presence of a mentally ill colleague at work, t(111) = 6.55, p<.001; increased ease inviting someone with mental health problems to a dinner party, t(111) = 6.11, p<.001, and decreased belief about someone with mental health problems leaving spouse, t(111) = -2.50, p<.001. The results revealed a significant change in the belief that someone with mental health problems could get into trouble with the law, t(111) = -1.43, p<.001. On the influence of gender, the independent samples t-test results showed that there was no difference in the belief of both gender that mental illness could damage one’s career, t(112) = .43, p>.05; feeling comfortable with a mentally ill colleague, t(112) = 1.53, p>.05; feeling comfortable with someone having mental health problems in a dinner party, t(112) = 1.12, p>.05; belief in the likelihood of someone with mental health problems leaving spouse, t(112) = .86, p>.05, and the likelihood of getting into trouble with the law, t(112) = -.84, p>.05. The implication of these findings on nursing education was discussed.