Investigating Egyptian student nurses' perception towards working in mental health nursing

Abstract

This research aims to explore Egyptian undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of working with mentally ill patients and to explore factors that influence student nurses' perceptions of mental health nursing. The study took place at the school of nursing in Cairo University. The research approach for the study is qualitative and descriptive since it aims to explore opinions and perceptions of participants and describe meanings about researched topic (Creswell 2014, Willing 2013, Hancock et al 2009). The method for data collection used in the study was focus group discussion: 8 focus groups were conducted that included 32 participants, all of them female students. A pilot focus group took place at the faculty of nursing in Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI) where fourth year students were asked to participate. The remaining focus groups were held at the school of nursing in Cairo University. Participants were chosen from fourth and fifth year students of the undergraduate programme. The participants had accumulated knowledge as students and they were about to graduate and to start their nursing career. Data analysis stage of the study employed thematic analysis to develop codes and themes that constitute the results of the research. Results of the study revealed that stigma associated with mental health nursing (MHN) is one of the main factors that keep students away from this specialty. Students expressed their fear and lack of a sense of safety within mental health facilities. The main stereotype as expressed by participants was that patients are violent and potentially aggressive. Other factors contributed to a negative view about MHN such as lack of positive role models, insufficient clinical training and the need for clinical supervision within mental health clinical placement. Few participants expressed an opposite opinion and were motivated to work in MHN but were not sure how to start this career. The gender issue appeared to be influencing perception of MHN since many considered MHN as a male job