ABSTRACT
Purpose: To clarify experience of students who participated in psychiatric nursing educational program aiming at competency development.Methods: We conducted a semi-structured interview with five students who participated in a psychiatric nursing educational program and analyzed the results qualitatively and descriptively.Results: We generated 19 categories and 39 subcategories. The students reached [acquisition of diversity and multi-phase viewpoint] through team discussion and attempted to understand patients holistically, including [acquisition of patient’s viewpoints]. Moreover, they formed supportive relationships while [repeating trial and error] and gained self-understanding based on [egocentrism awareness].Conclusion: Participation in this program increased students’ preparedness for psychiatric nursing practical training, believed to contribute to competency development. Some students had difficulty relating to patients and hesitated to express negative emotions while establishing supportive relationships. This indicates the need for an educational approach that encourages students to express negative emotions easily.