Do you expect me to chase you around? When commitment to learning outweighs resilience in mental health nursing education

Clinical placements are meant to be the heart of nursing education. They give students the chance to apply theory, work with patients, and learn from people who have been in practice for years. The reality is that placements vary. Some are supportive. Others are uncomfortable. And occasionally, they are unexpectedly hostile.

One placement that stands out for me was in a community mental health team. I arrived on my first day expecting a warm introduction, a basic induction, and some sense of structure. Instead, I found myself with an assessor who barely spoke to me. There was no clear guidance on where he would be, what I should be doing, or who I should shadow. It left me feeling anxious and unsure of my place.

Things came to a head in the depot clinic. He confronted me in front of others and asked, loudly, whether I expected him to chase me around. His tone suggested that I was not committed, when in fact I desperately wanted to learn. At that moment, my confidence dipped. I questioned myself. I wondered if perhaps I had misunderstood what was expected of me.

The turning point did not happen overnight. It took patience, self control, and a decision to remain professional. I still asked questions. I still showed up prepared. I tried to be visible and approachable rather than hiding away. Bit by bit, the dynamic shifted. He became more accessible. There was more conversation, even small moments of encouragement. He acknowledged that I was trying. Eventually, he began sharing clinical skills with me, allowing me to be involved rather than just watch.

Looking back, I realised two things were happening at the same time.

First, I needed resilience. Not the easy kind that people speak about casually, but the real version that comes from turning up even when you feel small. I could have withdrawn. I could have decided that he was difficult and that there was nothing for me to learn from him. But if I had done that, I would have missed out.

Second, I learned that commitment to learning matters. It cannot be passive. I had to chase him sometimes. I had to ask for clarification. I had to show initiative even when I wished someone would take the lead for me. That is part of the culture I encountered. The expectation was that students should be independent, alert, and ready to navigate uncertainty.

The more I engaged, the more the culture around me made sense. What had felt hostile in the beginning became something else over time. It became a mutual understanding. He saw my willingness to learn. I saw that his behaviour came from habit rather than malice. In a busy clinical environment, people sometimes assume that everyone should already know what to do. Once I stopped expecting him to guide me every step, I noticed his willingness to teach.

At the end of the placement, I left with far more than clinical skills. I learned how relationships in practice are shaped by attitudes, habits, and unspoken norms. First impressions do not tell the full story. Teams create their own culture. Sometimes that culture expects you to be self directed. Sometimes it demands resilience. And sometimes, the only way to move forward is to show that you are serious about learning.

If I had one piece of advice for nursing students, it would be this. Do not give up when a placement feels difficult. Stay professional. Stay curious. Ask questions. Show your interest. You may have to chase people at times. That is not a failure. It is part of learning how practice really works.

Clinical placements are rarely perfect. Yet they often teach the most important lessons. This one certainly did for me.

Adeyemi Koiki is a final-year mental health nursing student at London South Bank University.

Dr Josephine NwaAmaka Bardi is a higher education leader and global mental health advocate, founder of RAMHHE, and currently chairperson and visiting professor at St Joseph College of Nursing in Nigeria, as well as visiting professor at PAAET Kuwait College of Nursing.