Nursing students' beliefs about mental health, interest in work, and job tendencies

Abstract

Purpose: To explore nursing students' mental health educational level, mental illness beliefs, and interest in working in mental health.

Design and methods: Descriptive research conducted with 173 nursing students which convenience sampled. The questionnaire was composed of mental illness beliefs, interest in working in mental health, and tendency to work in nursing areas.

Findings: Main finding demonstarted perception of dangerous from mental illness related to low interest in working in mental health regarding all nursing students.

Practice implications: There is a necessity to discuss mental health beliefs within theoretical and practical learning as it may eventually can contribute to the quality of care and improve the image of mental healthcare.

Keywords: nursing education; occupational mental health; workforce issues.