Relationship Between Nursing Students’ Psychiatric Encounters and the Choice of Psychiatric Nursing Specialty in Kenya

Abstract

Management of mentally ill patients is mainly done by psychiatric nurses in Kenya. This study sought to identify the association between nursing students’ psychiatric encounters and the perception towards psychiatric nursing in Kenya using a cross-sectional study design. Cluster and systematic random sampling were used to select the study participants. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21. Odds ratio was used to identify the association between variables. A significant association existed between the students who were supported by clinical instructor/mentor and the desire to pursue psychiatric nursing (OR: 2.31; CI: 1.14-4.70; p=0.018). A strong association existed between the preparedness of the nursing staff for the arrival of the students and their wish to pursue psychiatric nursing programme (OR: 0.69; CI: 0.63-0.76; p<0.001). A significant association existed between the nursing staff knowledge about the objectives of the students and the desire of the nursing students to pursue psychiatric nursing (OR: 6.73; CI: 0.87-51.89; p=0.025). A significant association existed between the unwillingness of the respondents to tell anyone if they developed mental illness and their desire to pursue psychiatric nursing (p<0.001). In addition, a significant association was exhibited between the belief that people with mental illness are more likely to commit crime and the aspiration of the respondents to pursue psychiatric nursing (p=0.002). The study findings revealed that students’ clinical experience and perception influence their desire to pursue psychiatric nursing. Students should also be mentored well while in the clinical area in order for them to have a good experience.