Perceptions of nursing undergraduate students concerning the human dimension in the learning process

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and interpret the perceptions presented by undergraduate students of a Nursing course after internship in Mental Health. Twelve nursing undergraduate students at the Nursing School of ABC Foundation - Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil were interviewed. These interviews using a semi-structure script were performed and recorded in August 2004. Through Content Analysis, thematic modality, four categories were identified, 1. mental health: providing understanding of the other; 2. respect for the human being: the importance of listening, 3. mental health: contributing for a contextualized view of the patient and 4. nursing graduation: undesirable "signs and symptoms" of the profession. The analysis and the discussion of these categories suggest the possibility of teaching based on the human condition. Thus, we support the idea of new research been carried out, considering that the Mental Health discipline must be valued in the Political and Pedagogical projects of the Nursing Undergraduate Courses.

Attitudes, knowledge, and opinions regarding mental health among undergraduate nursing students

“…According to Table 4, the percentage of students with a mean between 5 and 6 is greater at UEL (45.6% of the entire major) than at UEM (26.25% of the entire major). This finding suggests that students at UEL were considered more benevolent toward the person suffering psychologically and believed that, due to the mental patients' misfortune, these individuals should be assisted through a kind and paternalist protectionism based on care, personal attention, and material comfort (15)(16) . This interpretation is supported by a study that compared students between three countries (20) .…”

“…An instrument consisting of the Opinions about Mental Illness (15) (OMI) scale, which has been validated for Brazil (16) , was used. The OMI is an important data source for designing programs and improving disciplines that deal directly with mental illness and mental health patients.…”

“…Utilizou-se escala de Opiniões sobre a Doença Mental (ODM) e um instrumento composto de questões sobre a importância de características pessoais e conhecimento em saúde mental. A aná-lise foi realizada por meio do programa estatístico SPSS-v. 15, com os testes de Mann-Whitney e Qui-quadrado e a correlação de Spearman (α<0,05). Na ODM, os estudantes apresentaram características distintas, significativas apenas em relação à benevolência.…”

The perception of resident physicians on the subject of mental health in the third year of the medical residency of a public university in Lima-Peru.

“…En nuestro estudio encontramos que el 62,96% de encuestados en el rango A de edades consideraron importantes los contenidos del curso de salud mental durante el residentado médico. Esto contrasta con un estudio en estudiantes de pregrado que, luego de una pasantía en salud mental permitió comprender que entre las percepciones de los estudiantes, éstos informaron y entendieron que el ser humano no solo está compuesto por aspectos biológicos, sino también psicológicos, sociales, culturales y espirituales (17) , Aquí es interesante mencionar la relevancia de estos hallazgos, tal como lo observaron Chau y Vilela en un estudio realizado en 1024 estudiantes universitarios de Lima y Huánuco donde determinaron que la salud mental de los estudiantes estaba determinada por variables como el estrés percibido, la sensación de autoeficacia, la carrera, el tipo de estudio, la institución, entre otros (18) . En esa línea, los residentes que se encuentran dentro de ese grupo etario se enfrentan no solamente a los desafíos laborales que corresponden a las necesidades de un servicio hospitalario, sino que, también se encuentra expuestos a los problemas comunes de su edad.…”

A Pilot Study to Validate the Priority Nursing Interventions Classification Interventions and Nursing Outcomes Classification Outcomes for the Nursing Diagnosis “Excess Fluid Volume” in Cardiac Patients

“…According to Camillo, Silva, and Nascimento (2007), neglect of a patient's psychological needs may occur because of the influence of a mechanistic view of taking care of patients, which causes nurses to focus their attention on the physical aspects of care and to neglect the psychological, social, and environmental aspects. In order to achieve a holistic view and deepen appreciation for the psychological aspect of patient care, nurses need to have such aspects of care included in their basic education and a work environment that enables them to reflect and act on this aspect of care.…”