A Scoping Review of Australian New Graduate Nurse Preparation to Work in Mental Health Settings

Abstract

Objectives: The review explores current evidence on Australian pre-registration nurse education in preparing graduates to work in mental health settings, from the perspectives of the graduates. Design: A scoping review using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist was undertaken. Results: There were 31 eligible publications, reporting 12 qualitative studies, eight surveys and 11 quasi-experimental studies. All were in English language peer reviewed journals, published between 2000 and July 2023. Five themes emerged: 1. Well-organised and supported clinical placements can reduce stigma; 2. Student concerns regarding mental health clinical placements can be lessened when placements are well-designed; 3. Well-organised and resourced clinical placements can increase interest in mental health nursing; 4. Simulation learning can increase confidence during clinical placements; 5. Teaching by Experts By Experience (EBE) can reduce stigma and improved student attitudes. Conclusion: Evidence from 31 eligible publications indicated that properly resourced, purpose-designed theoretical and clinical learning experiences can be effective in reducing stigmatising attitudes and behaviours in pre-registration nursing students. Involving EBEs in mental health teaching is an important, but so far under-utilised, development in pre-registration nursing programmes in Australia.