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Essay The Concept of Mentorship

Decent Essays

In the following assignment the author will critically explore, discuss, reflect upon and evaluate mentorship within clinical nursing placements. With particular reference to learning disabilities and respite care, the author will look at the needs and benefits of mentorship, as well as the problems and constraints, especially being in such a specialised service. The author will explore the area of orientation, looking at why it is such an important aspect of the whole placement area. Once these aspects have been explored, the author will go on to discuss the placement, the problems that have been encountered throughout and the ways in which these can be addressed effectively, to ensure that they are reduced and expelled as much as …show more content…

Tanner (1989) helped to define the role of the mentor into 3 main sections; teacher, advocate and friend. A more detailed table of this is provided in appendix 1. Tanner discussed in his research that the nature of the role as a mentor depended upon a number of factors. These factors included time spent with the student, organisation of a workplace, skills and experience of the mentor, and needs and interests of the student. Tanner believed that that these factors could have a great impact, both positively and negatively, upon the student and the placement. Neary (2000) added to this, categorising the role as teacher to include responsibility for identifying achievements and progress, as well as identifying needs and areas for development with the student/mentee. Neary goes on to explain that as an advocate, it is the mentors role to promote confidence and self esteem, and as a friend they are there to listen and advise, working on their morale if this is required. Finally, as a facilitator, or teacher, the students' mentor is required to work in partnership alongside the student to define boundaries and targets to assist in the

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