Standing out on the Margins: Using Dialogical Narrative Analysis to Explore Mental Health Student Nurse Identity Construction and Core Modules

Abstract

Literature and experience suggest that student mental health nurses feel marginalised in core modules. A focus group was held to explore mental health nurse students’ experiences of whole cohort core modules in nursing. Students from a university in the North of England attended a one hour focus group followed by dialogical narrative analysis of transcripts. Stories of shared professional identity, marginal status, critical thinking, and practical application of theory were shared by the group. Greater presence of mental health stakeholders earlier in the programme and more applied field specific teaching offer a means to bolster professional identity in mental health nursing students.