THE BACCALAUREATE NURSING STUDENT'S EXPERIENCE IN A PSYCHIATRIC CLINICAL SETTING: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY (NURSING STUDENT).
Contributors: Widener University School Of Nursing.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 234
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Education.; Health Sciences, Mental Health.
Description: During the last fifty years there have been many changes which affected the nursing care of the mentally ill. These changes have influenced psychiatric nursing education. Many nursing programs integrate psychiatric nursing theory and have limited clinical experiences. The purpose of the clinical component of psychiatric nursing is to experience the real world of nursing practice. The psychiatric nursing education literature does not reflect the dynamics of the experience or offer findings which might influence the education for nursing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of the baccalaureate nursing student in a psychiatric setting and the meaning of the experience from the student's point of view.

This descriptive study used a phenomenological approach. Seventeen senior level nursing students were interviewed. They were asked to describe their perception of the clinical experience. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's (1978) method.

Results revealed that the student moved through this experience in phases and developed a personal knowing. The student was able to reflect on the experience and its impact on self awareness, and on the awareness of others. The student looked back at the experience as being meaningful by providing an opportunity for development as a person and nurse. This experience helped the student to become a better nurse and to be able to use the knowledge gained anywhere. The student suggested more involvement in the setting for future clinical experiences of nursing students.

The description of the clinical experience was based on the themes which emerged during data analysis. Trustworthiness was established by the audit trail and returning to the students for validation of the description. The students who were contacted agreed that the description represented the experience.

The researcher concluded that the relevance of the psychiatric clinical experience could be greatly enhanced with continued incorporation of mental health concepts into the curriculum, along with greater and more holistic involvement with psychiatric clinical nursing care.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-05, Section: B, page: 2503.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--WIDENER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING, 1991.

School code: 0969.