This story is a real eye opener. Even nurse students probably aren't aware the full extent of discrimination that exists. I underwent around 6 months mental health nurse training in 2007 involving class lectures and clinical placement. It was a fast-track accelerated post grad course, having completed a degree in Psychology at night. There were opportunities for nurse training and I got an NHS bursary. However, I never completed the course due to many factors, one being moving from London to North of England and encountering issues with accommodation and being an outsider, and also my age, as I was 40 or over starting. But the main reason for not finishing was what happened on the clinical placement and the lack of support I had.

I did spend 3 weeks training on an secure psychiatric unit and I found what you described in this story - the focus on tasks (task orientated). I always enjoyed talking to patients much more than doing physical tasks, such as bathing, etc, even though that is part of a nurse's duties. I felt a lack of support on the placement, even though I had a mentor and it was because of this that I left the placement, which didn't go down very well with the NMC.

I came across patients who had tried to commit suicide and I even counselled one man who was recovering and preparing to leave the unit. Other cases I wasn't much involved with, but I was aware of them. Some patients also were on hourly watch, so someone had to check regularly on them throughout the night. It is an absolutely appalling disgrace that the young suicidal man was able to walk right out of the ward without anyone noticing. On the ward I was on, the nurse's station was at the very front of the building, and there was always someone there and the door was secured also, and there were regular checks on patients. But I still think there is discrimination in psychiatry and I know here where I now live, I read horrific reports of bullying and abuse on psychiatric wards and patient's being left in dubious and unsafe situations. The experience you had shows the bullying that goes on, that you weren't allowed talk more to very vulnerable patients and if you had been, that tradgedy could've been prevented. I think in nursing there is a lot of bullying, taking orders from senior staff members, and many student nurses experience it.