Evaluation of a mentor-arranged clinical practice placement for student nurses

Second year nursing students evaluated a new initiative, the Mentor-Arranged Clinical Practice (MACP), which supplemented their other clinical experiences. Seventy-eight students (95.6%) returned their completed questionnaires. Results indicated that the MACP program was beneficial to the students in the acquisition of knowledge, improvement of basic nursing skills, time management, prioritisation in patient care, and improvement in their confidence and self-esteem. Students identified six positive aspects of the MACP program: continuity and consolidation of nursing skills, improved communication and reporting skills, working in a variety of shifts, and working as a team member. Characteristics of a good mentor encompassed four areas: personality traits, teaching ability, nursing competence and interpersonal relationship. Findings suggest that there is a need for the development of mentorship models in the clinical experiences of undergraduate nursing courses, and the importance of effective clinical teachers in preparing nursing students for the workforce.