title: Mental health placements in a general health setting: no substitute for the real thing!
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine effectiveness of clinical placements in non-mental health facilities in producing improvement in attitudes toward people with a mental illness and toward mental health nursing in nursing students.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical placements in mental health settings have favourably impacted students' attitudes and confidence in mental health settings. Placement shortages have created discussion about using non-mental health settings to gain this experience, as mental illness is common in all health settings. To date, no research findings support or refute the efficacy of non-mental health settings in influencing confidence and attitudes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A within-subject design was used. Participants provided self-report data soon after the beginning and at the conclusion of the mental health component.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was administered to a cohort of undergraduate nursing students (n = 66) to measure attitudes, preparedness for practice and interest in mental health nursing as a career, using a pre- and post-test design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 25% of participants completed clinical experience in a mental health facility. Minor improvement in attitudes, confidence and appreciating the nursing role in mental health were identified, but the impact on attitudes was considerably less favourable than when clinical experience was undertaken in a mental health facility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants who completed clinical experience in a non-mental health facility did not demonstrate more favourable views about mental health nursing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical placements in mental health are essential preparation for undergraduate students to maximise improvement in attitudes to the care of people diagnosed with a mental illness and to mental health nursing.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health and Social Science Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, CQUniversity Australia, Rockhampton, Qld, Australia. b.happell@cqu.edu.au
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Happell
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Platania-Phung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult