Bridging the Gap

1
Bridging the Gap

• Practice Education Facilitators
• In Partnership with
• Higher Education Institutes (HEI)
• Avril Stobbart July 2006

2
Aims of Presentation

• To share an experience of partnership working
  which has enhanced the links between clinical
  learning environments and Higher Education
  Institutes.
• To describe the development of a ½ day mentorship
  update for nurses which has helped narrow the
  theory /practice gap.
• To look at possible future partnership working

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Practice Education Facilitators (PEFs)

• Came into post June 2004
• Recommendations from Facing The Future (SEHD
  2002)
• Scottish Executive initiative to address issues
  related to recruitment and retention and lifelong
  learning
• In Partnership NHS Education Scotland (NES), HEIs
  and NHS

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Two keys aims of PEF Post

• To support, educate and develop clinical staff
  and mentors to enhance the quality of the
  practice learning experience for students/mentors
• To identify future training needs of mentors and
  plan educational initiatives to address these
  needs

5
Planning Education and Support

• Evidence that many nurses felt unsupported and
  undervalued in their role as a mentor by both
  Health and Education
• Diversity of ongoing training and development for
  mentors

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Partnership Working

• Mentorship development
• ½ Day Mentor update
• Valuing mentors day
• Mentorship steering group
• Practice placement audits
• Input curriculum
• Revise competencies /clinical skills log
• User/carer partnership

7
Planning Education and Support

• ½ Day Mentor update developed from
• Results of local mentor questionnaire and focus
  groups
• Key findings from the Kathleen Duffy report
  (2004) Failing to Fail
• NMC (2002) Mentorship Standards
• NES (2003) Practice Placement Standards

8
Partnership Working

• ½ Day Mentor update provided in partnership
  HEIs/Service
• Link lecturer
• Practice Education Facilitator

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Content of ½ day Mentor Update

• Role of the Mentor
• Overview of 3 year pre reg. programme
• Student Assessment
• Working with students issues and failing
  students
• Question and answer session

10
What does a good mentor look like?

• Students describe a good mentor as being
  enthusiastic, friendly, approachable, patient,
  understanding and having a sense of humour. A
  good mentor is a good role model as they are
  professional , organised and self confident.
• The qualities of an effective mentor from the
  student nurses perspective findings from a
  longitudinal qualitative study (Gray and Smith
  2000)

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Negative Mentoring

• Avoiders make themselves scarce when it comes
  to having anything to do with the students
• Dumpers throw students in at the deep end,
  hoping that they swim in the process
• Blockers are mentors who refuse to meet
  students needs
• Criticisers undermines or overtly criticises

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Who says we need mentors?

• HEIs - 50/50 responsibility
• NMC - Rule 6.4
• You have a duty to facilitate students and others
  to develop their competence.
• Fit for Practice
• Job Descriptions
• NES Quality Standards for Practice Placements

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Evaluation and Planning for the Future

• 1/2 day session evaluated well some minor
  adjustments made
• Impact of ½ day updates
• Learning Styles Workshop (students and mentors)
• Reflective Practice
• Learning Methods and Models
• Updates from Universities on programme changes

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Partnership working

• Good partnership working is an essential part of
  our working environment whether a student,
  mentor, educator or manager

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Partnership Working

• A close mutual co-operation between parties
  which have common goals and interests, valuing
  each others roles and with shared
  responsibilities thus creating a meaningful and
  productive relationship

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Reference List

• NHS Lothian and Borders (2004) Practice Placement
  Standards Handbook Napier University Press,
  Edinburgh
• NHS Education for Scotland (2003) The Development
  of Quality Standards for Practice Placements, NHS
  Education for Scotland, Edinburgh
• Duffy K. (2004) Failing Students A UKCC financed
  Study. Online http//www.nmc-uk.org/aFrameDisplay
  .aspx?DocumentID1330
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (2002) Advisory
  Standards for Mentors http//www.nmc-uk.org

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Reference List

• Gray M and Smith L (2000) The qualities of an
  effective mentor from the student nurses
  perspective findings from a longitudinal
  qualitative study Journal of Advanced Nursing
  Dec 32(6) 1542-9
• Facing the Future Report (2002) Recruitment and
  Retention and Lifelong Learning Scottish
  Executive Health Department