The experiences of undergraduate nursing students with mental health conditions in the inpatient clinical setting: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of mental health conditions in college students is increasing. Due to this rising number, more students with mental health conditions (NSWMHCs) are enrolling in nursing programs. There is a need for nurse educators to discover new ways to foster retention and success for this student population.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of undergraduate NSWMHCs in the inpatient clinical setting, particularly related to perceived barriers and changes they would make to their clinical rotations.

DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive design.

SETTING: The study was conducted at a 4-year public university in the Northeast region of the United States.

PARTICIPANTS: A purposeful sample of seven junior and senior undergraduate nursing students diagnosed with mental health conditions.

METHODS: Data were collected between November 2021 and February 2022 through in-depth, semi-structured interviews that lasted between 30 and 60 min each. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS: The data analysis identified seven major themes: dealing with internal and external barriers, relating to patients' experiences particularly those with mental health conditions, sharing perceptions with peers to understand interactions and experiences, using particular coping skills, improving over time, inconsistent faculty interactions, and recommended changes.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that while NSWMHCs face multiple challenges in the clinical setting, they also have valuable experiences and possess unique insight that can foster their success.