Peer-mentees' challenges in an undergraduate peer-group clinical mentoring programme in a nursing education institution

• Published in: Health SA = SA Gesondheid Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Ntho, Tshepo A., Pienaar, Abel J., Sehularo, Leepile A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa AOSIS 2020; African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS; AOSIS (Pty) Ltd; AOSIS Publishing on behalf of University of Johannesburg
• Subjects: Case studies; clinical learning and teaching; Clinical medicine; clinical mentoring; College students; Data analysis; Data collection; Educational facilities; Health Care Sciences & Services; Health Policy & Services; Information management; Learning strategies; Mentoring; Nursing education; Original Research; Principles; Qualitative research; reinforcement; Research methodology; Social aspects; Students; undergraduate nursing student; undergraduate peer-group clinical mentoring programme; Workloads; Reinforcement; Undergraduate nursing student; Clinical learning and teaching; Undergraduate peer-group clinical mentoring programme; Clinical mentoring
• ISSN: 1025-9848; 2071-9736; 2071-9736
• DOI: 10.4102/hsag.v25i0.1435

Background: Clinical competency and professional growth amongst nursing students is the cornerstone of a nursing education programme. The demanding and complex training of nursing students requires various clinical teaching and learning strategies such as peer-group clinical mentoring.Aim: The objective of this research was to explore and describe the challenges that peermentees experience in an undergraduate peer-group clinical mentoring programme in onespecific nursing education institution in the North West Province.Setting: The study was conducted at a nursing education institution in North West Province.Methods: A qualitative, retrospective case study research design was used. Two separate World Cafe sessions following a semi-structured schedule based on Gibbs Reflective Cycle were conducted with 51 peer-mentees who were mentored in clinical practice. Four levels of qualitative thematic data analyses were employed to analyse the data.Results: Five themes emerged from the findings of the study, namely, poor implementation of the peer-group clinical mentoring programme, ineffective undergraduate peer-group clinical mentoring programme, undesirable attitudes of the mentors, mentors unprofessional conduct as well as communication challenges. Ten sub-themes emerged from the findings. Literature control was done to support the findings.Conclusion: The findings showed that undergraduate nursing students faced a diversity of challenges in the effective learning and teaching of peer-mentees in a clinical context. Limitations and recommendations of the study were given. Recommendations were given for nursing practice, education and research.