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