Nursing Mentorship

For this mentorship course I have been allocated a second year student on her first placement lasting for twelve weeks. I will be observed and assessed by a qualified professional who is a sign-off mentor within my learning environment. In accordance with the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) (2008) I have changed the name of the student in order to maintain confidentiality therefore I will refer to her as Violet. Violet is a youthful and very enthusiastic student who intends to learn all aspects of community nursing. She also aims to identify the diversity of nursing from a hospital setting to a home environment. As a first student year she completed two placements which were orthopaedics and liver/gastro wards. She enjoyed both placements
Kolbs learning cycle (1984) says Learning is the process whereby data is produced through the transformation of experience. This is my preferred style of reflective learning. Reflection is also associated with swot analysis (Strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). According to Humphreys it is a process of assessment and robust construction for comparing different learning styles Gray et al (2004). It is a useful tool for decision making and can help to plan your career, although you know your chosen pathway is nursing it is still undecided which profession you want to work within Whitehead et al (2010). A learning environment can be separated into two different categories, University (academic) and placement (clinical), this needs to be combined and achieved in order to complete the course. Stuart (2007) says learning within a clinical setting is as important as attending university for educational work it gives completion from information taught. Working within the community can be a challenge due to nursing patients in their own home for example varying personalities/environment, limited materials/equipment and staff exposure to
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