University of Dundee School of Nursing & Midwifery Mentor Update Day (adapted from the introductory session given by Iain Burns, Director of the CPPSU)

Thanks! You are doing a great job! Today is partly about thanking you, as a mentor, for your continued hard work The next slide should be familiar to many of you – it shows the kind of report we compile from student evaluations Red and blue are the colours to look for - these indicate satisfaction within each category

A Global View The next slide demonstrates that, overall, satisfaction with mentors remains high amongst our students To compile it, we add up and average out all the scores from the bar charts like the one on the previous slide Scores can range from 0 to 5, so you will see that even the lowest score on the graph is still only just below 3.0

Some of the things students say Some of the things students say My mentor was excellent Every member of staff was willing to help me learn Mentors taking time to explain things to me Supportive staff/being valued by the team Being made to feel really welcome to the ward

Looking at the literature The Ideal Learning Environment : Is based on learning through action in the real world Challenges the learner Takes place in the presence of experts Links theory to practice

The Ideal Learning Environment (cont): Views learning as intrinsically rewarding Makes learners conscious of their strategies for learning Utilises collaborative teamwork for modelling, giving feedback and encouragement to reflect Encourages facilitators of learning to continue to learn and reflect on learning Encourages facilitators of learning to continue to learn and reflect on learning (Partnerships in Learning 2003)

More from the Literature Staff nurses/midwives are the key personnel to promote ward-based learning This is especially so for student nurses/midwives (Williamson G.R. & Webb C2001)

…..And more Qualified nurses/midwives were most influential re student self-esteem Potential for mentors to actively develop self-esteem of students through mentoring activities Qualified nurses/midwives could impose negative experiences, e.g. ridicule, harshness (Randle J. 2001)

The Students View – not always happy! “Mentor: What mentor?” The most likely reason for dissatisfaction is not having a single assigned mentor to relate to

Celebrating Good Practice “All we ask of you is that you continue to meet the students’ needs for learning and support, and we in turn will do our best to support you --- Thank you”

Celebrating Good Practice: References PATERSON, I and BURNS, I (2007) Making Practice Perfect. Nursing Management. 14(3) pp RANDLE, J (2001) The Effect of a 3-year Pre- registration Training Course on Students’ Self-esteem. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 10 (2), pp University of Dundee School of Nursing & Midwifery (2003): Partnerships in Learning workbook. WILLIAMSON, G R and WEBB, C (2001) Supporting Students in Practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 10 (2), pp