Recognising and reconciling differences : mental health nurses and nursing students' perceptions of the preceptorship relationship

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to examine thepreceptorship relationship between students’ and mental health nurses’ in the mental health setting.Design: This study used a qualitative research design: grounded theory. This type of research method was deemed appropriate due to the limited knowledge of preceptorship in mental health.Setting: One metropolitan area mental health service (AMHS) in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia agreed to participate in this study. The range of settings included adult acute, rehabilitation and community.Subjects: Twenty 2nd year undergraduates nursing students from one metropolitan university in Melbourne, Australia agreed to participate in the study. In addition, nine mental health nurses from thenominated AMHS also consented to be involved.