Aims and objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore how undergraduate students perceive and make decisions regarding mental health nursing as a career following completion of an inpatient mental health practicum.
Background: Among nursing students, mental health is consistently perceived as the least desirable nursing career path. However, evidence to explain why this is the case remains limited, with a lack of research exploring students' experiences of mental health settings and how these experiences influence their perceptions of a mental health nursing career. This knowledge gap limits strategies to support nurses' selection of mental health nursing as a career path, contributing to a global shortage of mental health nurses.
Design: This study used a qualitative narrative inquiry design.
Methods: In-depth interviews (N = 15) were conducted with undergraduate nursing students to explore their experiences of mental health practicums. Participants had all completed a 6-week practicum in inpatient mental health settings in urban hospitals. Reporting follows COREQ guidelines.
Results: Nursing students' decisions to not choose a career in mental health nursing were influenced by negative practicum experiences, including the institutional environments of the inpatient mental health settings and witnessing of harmful nursing practices. These factors were identified as barriers to pursuing a career in mental health nursing. However, students expressed desire to continue to work with clients with mental health challenges and aimed to pursue nursing careers that preserve this opportunity in different healthcare settings.
Conclusions: These findings expand upon existing literature that frequently positions nursing students as "uninterested" in mental health nursing and offers insights that can contribute to addressing global mental health nursing shortages.
Relevance to clinical practice: This study highlights the need for mental health nurses, nursing leaders, and educators to recognise and respond to students' difficult experiences in the inpatient mental health setting during practicums.
Keywords: attitudes to mental illness; mental health nursing; nursing education; nursing students; nursing workforce.
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.