Mentorship and Peer Learning in Nursing Practice

Karen Holland is a Research Fellow at Salford University, and Editor in Chief of the international journal Nurse Education in Practice. Her career in nursing practice and nursing education has spanned 45 years. During the course of this time she has undertaken many roles from staff nurse to Associate Dean (Research) and although 'retired' from full time work in 2009, enjoys the challenges of nursing education internationally in a part-time role as research fellow. Deborah Roberts is a Reader in Nursing at Glyndwr University, and Associate Editor of the international journal Nurse Education in Practice. She is passionate about teaching and learning and contributes to a range of undergraduate and post graduate modules, within this teaching remit her areas of expertise include clinical learning, clinical simulation and immersive learning, reflective practice, nurse-patient relationships, care of the dying, management and leadership in clinical practice and workforce development.

Introduction: The role of the practice learning environment in the education and training of student nurses. Mentorship: exploring the concept and its place in nursing. Mentorship in different international contexts. Peer learning: exploring the concept and its place in nursing. The practice learning environment. The essential skills of mentorship. Development of the practice learning environment: the involvement of Higher Education and health care organisations. Key issues that practitioners face when they are responsible for the student learning experience. Teaching and assessing students. Being a role model as a qualified nurse. Peer learning. Managing challenging situations in practice. The future role of mentorship.