Problem-based learning: providing hope for psychiatric nursing?

Problem-based learning has been recognised as an educational method designed to facilitate student motivation and interest in clinically-based situations in order to increase their problem-solving capabilities. This paper describes the author's experience with the development and implementation of problem-based learning for the study of psychiatric nursing. The results of student evaluation suggest that this approach has been successful in fostering the interest of students in the skills and knowledge of this field of practice. More specifically, a stronger interest in pursuing psychiatric nursing as a career has emerged. This is particularly important in view of the negative image which the majority of undergraduate nursing students appear to hold towards psychiatric nursing as a career option.