Pre-registration mental health nursing students' perceptions of the teaching and relevance of physical health skills: a qualitative exploratory study

Background/Aims: Mental health nursing is increasingly recognised as requiring an integrated approach to care, as individuals with severe mental illnesses are at a higher risk of poor physical health. The Nursing and Midwifery Council requires all nursing students to be able to provide essential physical healthcare; however, integrating these skills into mental health nursing courses has posed challenges. This study explored the mental health nursing students' perceptions of the teaching and relevance of physical health skills. Methods: Focus group discussions were used to explore students' perceptions. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Findings revealed that students recognised the importance of physical health skills in addressing the physical health disparities experienced by individuals with mental illness, highlighting that competence in these skills increased their confidence in providing holistic care. However, challenges were noted, including limited opportunities to practice physical health skills in mental health settings. Conclusions: A need to better integrate physical health skills training into pre-registration mental health nursing programmes was identified to prepare students for the complex demands of contemporary mental health practice. Implications for practice: Findings from the study could be used to support the development of initiatives to enhance students' confidence and competence in delivering holistic care. Mental health services and academic institutions should collaborate to create clinical placements and learning environments where physical health assessment is routinely practiced, helping to bridge the gap between theory and practice, ultimately improving outcomes for individuals with severe mental illnesses.