International Pre-Registration Nursing Students' Experiences of Mental Health Clinical Placement in Australia: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

As of May 2026, the Australian Government reported approximately 23 034 international students enrolled in pre-registration nursing degrees in Australian universities. These pre-registration nursing degrees typically include mandatory clinical placements in mental health settings; however, to date no research has explored the experiences of international pre-registration nursing students during their mental health clinical placement. Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, we interviewed 13 pre-registration international nursing students from an Australian university about their experiences of clinical placement in mental health settings. Analysis of the data resulted in four themes: (1) Pre-existing perspectives of mental health; (2) Experiencing transformation during clinical placement; (3) Gaining confidence during the placement experience; and (4) Overcoming placement challenges. Several participants held differing negative perceptions of mental illness prior to placement, which initially invoked feelings of fear and apprehension. However, as the mental health placement progressed, participants gained confidence and began exploring mental health nursing as a specialty. Challenges, such as racist comments, were encountered by some participants. Findings suggest that mental health placement plays an important role in preparing international nursing students for practice and influences their decision to specialize in mental health nursing. However, further work is needed from both universities and clinical placement venues to support the unique challenges faced by those who are not domestic students.