The experiences of a group of pre-registration mental health nursing students

Focus groups were used to generate data and the sample consisted of fourteen mental health branch students who, within the pre-registration nursing programme, formed a problem-based learning group. The group met on an annual basis at key junctures during the three-year diploma programme. The focus groups were tape-recorded and the data interpreted and organised by utilising an adapted form of content analysis. Three themes were identified; the conflicting pressures of life as a mental health student nurse, adjustment to problem based learning and experiences in mental health practice and views on mentorship. A discussion of the implications of the findings for the planning of nursing curricula and mental health branch programmes is outlined.