Supporting mentors in clinical practice.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Mentorship

Background:

• Mandatory 'sign-off mentor' requirement for nursing students since September 2007 for registration.
• Sign-off mentor confirms student readiness for qualified nurse registration based on clinical assessment criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• Describe the clinical teacher's role in preparing and supporting mentors.
• Focus on a specific region in Wales.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative description of the clinical teacher's role.
• Exploration of mentor preparation and support strategies.

Main Results:

• The clinical teacher's role is crucial in equipping mentors.
• Support mechanisms enhance mentor confidence and effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Effective mentor preparation is vital for student registration.
• Clinical teachers play a key role in the nursing education support system.