title: Evaluation of undergraduate nursing students' clinical confidence following a mental health recovery camp.
abstract: In the present study, we evaluate the impact of participation in a mental health recovery camp on the clinical confidence of undergraduate nursing students in dealing with individuals with mental illness. Twenty undergraduate nursing students who participated in the recovery camp completed the Mental Health Nursing Clinical Confidence Scale both before and directly after attending the camp. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Participation in the recovery camp was associated with a statistically-significant increase in students' level of overall confidence between the pretest and post-test data (P < 0.005). The results also demonstrated that students over the age of 25 years and who do not have a family history of mental illness are more likely to self-report a higher level of confidence in both the pre- and post-results. The clinical confidence of undergraduate nursing students improved through participation in an immersive clinical experience within the recovery camp.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cowley
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumskis
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moxham
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Ellie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brighton
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8099-986X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halcomb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing; D008875:Middle Aged; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: clinical confidence; clinical placement; mental health; nursing student; therapeutic recreation