Nurses' Experiences With Mentoring Nursing Students in Nursing Homes Where an Active, Collaborative Learning Model Is...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Mentorship
• Collaborative Learning Models

Background:

• Clinical nurses are vital for effective student learning environments.
• Active collaborative learning models are increasingly used in nursing education.
• Understanding mentor experiences in these new models is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of nurses mentoring nursing students.
• Focus on students in an active collaborative learning model during their first clinical placement.
• Investigate a specific model: one mentor for two students, supported by a team.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design.
• Focus group interviews with 27 mentors.
• Thematic analysis of interview data.

Main Results:

• Mentors navigated finding their role within a new approach.
• Mentors experienced sharing responsibility for student mentoring.
• A shift in focus from one-to-one to supporting a learning cell of two students.

Conclusions:

• Mentors adapt to supporting learning cells rather than individual students.
• Essential to provide supportive structures for mentors in new practice learning models.
• Active collaborative learning models can enhance clinical placement quality with proper support.