Effect of Standardized Patient Simulation on Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Psychiatric Nursing and Patients With Mental Health Problems

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate changes in attitudes toward psychiatric nursing and mental health problems in a sample of nursing students after exposure to high-fidelity standardized patient (SP) simulation scenarios. This study used a quasi-experimental, single-group pre-/post-survey approach. Immediately before and after exposure to SP simulation scenarios, undergraduate nursing students completed Attitudes to Mental Illness (AMI) and the Attitudes to Psychiatry (ATP) surveys. There were significant improvements in the following ATP domains: psychiatric career choice and psychiatric teaching (p = 0.046 and 0.007, respectively). There were no significant changes in the AMI survey, but items related to social stigma improved following the simulation. Findings of this study suggest a potential benefit of SP simulation on nursing students in developing their attitudes toward psychiatry and mental health problems. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].