The impact of nursing students' mentorship on institutionalized older persons' care, as perceived by students and mentors : a qualitative study

Abstract

It is widely recognized that mentorship is an important key element in pre-registration nursing programmes, enabling students to gain the maximum benefits from a mentored clinical placements where knowledge and practice is transferred into comprehensive and effective nursing care. This research project aimed to explore the impact of nursing students' mentorship on institutionalized older persons' care, as perceived by students and mentors, identifying common and differences in relation to their demographic data and explore factors that participants' viewed as contributing to bridging or widening the theory-practice gap and the hindrance or enhancement of learning in the clinical setting. A qualitative, descriptive research design was adopted to achieve the mm and objectives of this study, based on twenty semi-structured interviews held at St Vincent De Paul Residence for the Elderly (SVPR) and at the Institute of Health (IHC). The researcher designed the tool used during the interviews after an extension review of the literature. Analyzing the data consisted of listening to the audiotapes, transcribing them and reading and re-reading them several times. The sample consisted of ten qualified nurses being mentors and ten BSc nursing students in their third year of studies. Students were allocated at SVPR during semester one of academic year 2009-2010. The main findings of this study were, that through the mentorship system, mentors and students are equipped to provide comprehensive and effective nursing care to address clients' needs, updating themselves to keep abreast with knowledge and new developments in nursmg management related to institutionalized older persons. Additionally, factors that hindered or inhibited learning in the clinical setting were identified. The study findings are considered to contribute to a greater understanding of the benefits of mentorship in a long-term setting. This study recommends to develop a strategic committee to support the mentors in order to manage their role which at times can be conflicting; caring for the clients and the mentees simultaneously. Moreover, to set up a library at SVPR equipped with, books, publications, computers and internet access for research and ultimately to give further attention to adequate hydration in the elderly.