Psychiatric nursing: A practicum in an associate degree nursing progra

Research findings indicate that psychiatric nursing is not highly regarded by undergraduate nursing students as a desirable career choice for the future. Psychiatric nursing occupies a relatively small proportion of undergraduate curricula and does not emerge as a popular career choice within comprehensive education. To prevent a crisis in nursing education, greater attention must be devoted to the theory and practice of psychiatric nursing, so that it can occupy a position of equal importance to other areas of nursing practice. Research has indicated that nursing education will positively influence students' opinion of psychiatric nursing. The purpose of undertaking this clinical practicum was to determine if a class of nursing students in an associate degree program were adequately prepared for and encouraged to enter the field of psychiatric nursing. Using the American Nurses Association Scope and Standards (2000) as the framework for the practicum, the course content and structure were evaluated. This educational endeavor was supported by a review of current and pertinent literature related to current trends in psychiatric nursing, nursing education, teaching strategies, and future predictions for the field of mental health nursing.