Whether we like it or not, students need to be mentored.
- Originally published 26th September, 2011
We all need that essential link to ensure that our time in placement is both productive and efficient. It is part of a mentor’s role to get to know their students and to try and tailor their teaching style to students’ individual needs.
The relationship between a student and a mentor is built up on expectations, students expect their mentors to be supportive, constructive and encouraging. Mentors, on the other hand, expect a student to be willing to learn, adaptable and professional.
Inevitably when a large number of students are mixed with a large number of mentors, differences in personalities are going to take place.
Speaking from my own experience of a mentor who wasn’t as supportive as I’d hoped, it can make things very tricky. But if you face a similar situation then you should know that there are methods of support to help you. There will be a link lecturer or link nurse between the placement and your university to help you or you could speak to your tutor directly.
But it’s not all negative.
I think there is a tendency among some students to underestimate how difficult it is to be a mentor. Being a mentor doesn’t absolve a nurse from their massive workload. They still have to contend with their day-to-day duties and on top of that they may have one, two or perhaps three students to guide through the nursing process.
This can be quite a strain so there are ways in which us students can help ourselves and make our mentor relationship better:
- At the start of a placement, we could set out what we would like to achieve from the practice area
- We could ensure we don’t leave our practice documents to the last minute
- We could be willing to adapt and fit in with the general ethos of our placement area
What do you think?
On the whole, the student-mentor relationship can benefit everyone involved. Students benefit from their mentor’s experiences, and mentors feel proud of their student’s achievments. When I spoke to my mentor she told me about the sense of pride she felt when she became a mentor. She spoke of a recognition that her nursing skills were sufficient to be able to teach other people.
Both students and mentors can benefit from their time together all that it takes is a little bit of adjustment on both sides.
Do you benefit from your relationship with your mentor? How would you like your relationship with your mentor to be different?
