Preparation for Mentorship

Allison is a 2nd year Midwifery student. Whilst on her clinical placement on an Antenatal and Postnatal ward, has been observed by her Mentor and associate Mentor, to fail in her actions to show competence in her practice whilst caring for the women. The key areas identified by her Mentor are: failing to explain her actions to a women in her care who has more complex needs, failed to gain verbal consent and failed to maintain privacy or dignity. Her associate Mentor has been concerned on shift with Allison as she noted that Allison did not follow universal precautions such as appropriate hand-washing or wearing gloves and apron when required. Within the Nursing and Midwifery Council’ (NMC), code of conduct states that:
“As a registered nurse or midwife, you are personally accountable for your practice. In caring for patients and clients, you must: respect the patient or client as an individual; obtain consent before you give any treatment or care; protect confidential information; cooperate with others in the team; maintain your professional knowledge and competence; be trustworthy and act to identify and minimize risk to patients and clients” NMC (2004).
With this in mind it highlights how important it has been for the mentor to recognise Allison’s weaknesses in her clinical practice if she is going to be signed off as fit to practice.

Firstly to ensure that the mentor supports Allison in her practice it is advantageous to define and examine the term “mentor”, characterising both good and poor features so that the mentor can achieve a fair assessment. If we explore the hypothetical causes, which may be influencing Allison’s practice, then the mentorship process will address learning, teaching and assessment of competence and we can provide a respectable level of support for Allison.
The development of an action plan, a fair assessment and good mentorship will be crucial to Allison’s success. Following on from this, in the event should Allison not

References: * Anderson L (2011): A Learning Resource for developing effective mentorship in practice. Nursing Standard 25 51 pp 48 – 56 * Bradley-Adams (2009): Getting back on course * Casey D, Clark L, (2011): Roles and Responsibilities of the Student Nurse Mentor: An update. British Journal of Nursing 20 15 pp 933 – 937 * Duffy K (2000): The Nurse Lecturers Role in mentoring the mentors * Ness V et al (2010): Supporting and mentoring nursing students in practice. Nursing Standard. 25,1 pp 41 – 46. * Nurising and Midwifery Council (2008): Standard to support learning and assessment in practice 2nd ed. NMC.London * Nursing and Midwifery Council (2004): Standards of Proficiency for pre-registration midwifery education * Oxford Brooks University, (2006); Skingley et al, (2007): Guidelines for supporting the struggling or underachieving student * Prevost M (2011): Mentorship and appraisal from a student midwifes perspective * Quinn F, Hughes S J (2007): Principles and Practice of Nurse Education 5th ed. Nelson Thorns * Sharples K et al (2007): Supporting Mentors in Practice * Stuart Ci Ci (2009): Assessment, Supervision and Support in Clinical Practice: A guide for nurses, midwives and other health professionals 2nd ed. Churchill Livingston * Woodcock J (2009): Supporting students Who May Fail