What are the views of mental health nursing students?
Mental health nursing students express various emotions and concerns about their course experience, revealing positive and negative trends. On the one hand, many students appreciate the academic staff's supportive and engaging nature, who are often described as approachable and willing to help when needed. Students also value the opportunities provided for clinical practice and the available resources.
On the other hand, several concerns and issues emerge from the comments. Many students feel that the course is too adult nursing-focused, with mental health nursing somewhat neglected until later in the programme. This leads to feelings of frustration and disappointment among students who are specifically interested in mental health nursing.
Students also express dissatisfaction with the course's organization and delivery, citing frequent changes to timetables and a lack of clear communication from academic staff. Online learning is another area of contention, with some students feeling that it is overused and does not provide an adequate substitute for face-to-face teaching.
Furthermore, students highlight placement allocation and preparation issues, including the need for more support in finding childcare and managing travel arrangements. Some students also express concerns about the availability and quality of equipment for clinical skills practice, which can impact their confidence and competence in certain procedures.
Regarding specific course content, some students feel that certain topics are not covered adequately or at the right time, leading to difficulties in their studies and placements. For example, some students report that mental health-specific learning is not introduced until too late in the programme, making it challenging to develop a deep understanding of the subject.
Overall, while there are certainly positive aspects of the course experience, these comments suggest that several areas could be improved to better meet the needs and expectations of mental health nursing students.