Mentor Update 2007/8

Update format

Aims and objectives for this update

Suffolk College and NMC standard changes

Discussion points

Questions and answer session

Update Aim:

To familiarise mentors to current changes both within Suffolk College and NMC standards

To facilitate critical debate on the key issues encountered when supporting student learning in practice

Update Objectives:

At the end of the session you will be able to:

Explain the new NMC standards to support learning and assessment in practice

Analyse the role of ‘mentor’ in supporting learning in practice

Propose strategies to assist learners in practice

Changes within Suffolk College Higher Education and Further Education split

Higher Education moves to University Campus Suffolk (UCS)

Further Education provided by Suffolk New College

Affiliated to both the University of East Anglia and University of Essex

Development of education quarterin Ipswich centring on the water front

NMC Standards to support learning and assessment in

practice (2006)

Published in October 2006 Provides a 4 stage development framework

for all roles within nursing education

Stage 1: All registrants (Associate mentor) Stage 2: Mentor Stage 3: Practice Teacher Stage 4: Teacher (lecturer)

New developments

Placement providers now responsible for maintaining mentor register

Mentors MUST attend annual mentor updates to stay current on the mentor register

Placement providers must review mentors, sign off mentors and practice teachers mentorship practice every 3 years (triennial review)

Normally should not have more than 3 students, from any discipline, at any one time

When giving direct care you must supervise your student (direct or indirect) for a minimum of 40% of the student’s time

In addition, sign off mentors during the final placement, must have 1 hour per week protected time to meet with their student

Introduction of student passports

Triennial Review Requirements You must have mentored a minimum of 2 students in 3 years

(Practice Teachers, 1 student)

Must have attended an annual update

Had the opportunity to meet other mentors to discuss issues of accountability, assessment and challenges of judging competence (incorporated in to annual updates)

Must map & provide evidence of your ongoing development in your role against the current NMC standards

Have met all the requirements to remain on the local register as a mentor, sign off mentor or practice teacher

Recurrent Issues

Grading student competence

Supporting under-achieving students

Supporting students with difficulties

Enhancing quality of mentorship

Discussion Points(Workshop Activities)

Divide into four groups and review your given scenario

Debate the issues within your group remember to consider: mentor accountability, reliability, validity and objectivity of assessment etc

Nominate a spokesperson to feedback to the whole group

Helpful Resources

Suffolk College mentor website: provides guidance on grading, completing the PA document and much, much more!

(http://healthweb.suffolk.ac.uk) this website is no longer available. Go instead to www.ucs.ac.uk find the faculty of health, wellbeing and science pages and clink on the link to ‘Health Partners’

Clinical Practice Facilitators Link Lecturers – list available on website

NMC (2006): Standards to support learning and assessment in practice. NMC, London.