Mentor Update 2007/8
Update format
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Aims and objectives for this update
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Suffolk College and NMC standard changes
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Discussion points
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Questions and answer session
Update Aim:
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To familiarise mentors to current changes
both within Suffolk College and NMC
standards
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To facilitate critical debate on the key issues
encountered when supporting student
learning in practice
Update Objectives:
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At the end of the session you will be able to:
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Explain the new NMC standards to support
learning and assessment in practice
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Analyse the role of ‘mentor’ in supporting learning
in practice
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Propose strategies to assist learners in practice
Changes within Suffolk
College
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Higher Education and Further Education split
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Higher Education moves to University Campus Suffolk (UCS)
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Further Education provided by Suffolk New College
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Affiliated to both the University of East Anglia and University of
Essex
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Development of education quarter
in Ipswich centring on the water front
NMC Standards to support
learning and assessment in
practice (2006)
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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
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Placement providers now responsible for
maintaining mentor register
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Mentors MUST attend annual mentor updates to
stay current on the mentor register
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Placement providers must review mentors, sign off
mentors and practice teachers mentorship practice
every 3 years (triennial review)
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Normally should not have more than 3 students,
from any discipline, at any one time
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When giving direct care you must supervise your
student (direct or indirect) for a minimum of 40% of
the student’s time
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In addition, sign off mentors during the final
placement, must have 1 hour per week protected
time to meet with their student
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Introduction of student passports
Triennial Review Requirements
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You must have mentored a minimum of 2 students in 3 years
(Practice Teachers, 1 student)
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Must have attended an annual update
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Had the opportunity to meet other mentors to discuss issues of
accountability, assessment and challenges of judging
competence (incorporated in to annual updates)
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Must map & provide evidence of your ongoing development in
your role against the current NMC standards
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Have met all the requirements to remain on the local register as
a mentor, sign off mentor or practice teacher
Recurrent Issues
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Grading student competence
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Supporting under-achieving students
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Supporting students with difficulties
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Enhancing quality of mentorship
Discussion Points
(Workshop Activities)
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Divide into four groups and review your given
scenario
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Debate the issues within your group remember to
consider: mentor accountability, reliability, validity
and objectivity of assessment etc
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Nominate a spokesperson to feedback to the whole
group
Helpful Resources
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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’
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Clinical Practice Facilitators
Link Lecturers – list available on website
NMC (2006): Standards to support learning and
assessment in practice. NMC, London.