Evaluating the introduction of a pilot client attachment scheme in mental health nursing education

Abstract

Client attachment (CA) allows student nurses to gain clinical experience through forming therapeutic attachments with individual clients, rather than through a series of location-based placements. This paper describes a pilot project that evaluated CA with pre-registration student mental health nurses. Using semi-structured interviews, the researchers identified the students', their supervisor's, and their clients' experiences of CA. Most participants agreed that students were able to learn relevant and appropriate clinical skills, and to consolidate experience-increasing motivation, autonomy, organizational skills, and confidence.