Nurses' Experiences With Mentoring Nursing Students in Nursing Homes Where an Active, Collaborative Learning Model Is Introduced. A Qualitative Study.

Aim: To explore the experiences of nurses mentoring nursing students who study in an active collaborative learning model in their first clinical placement in nursing homes.

Background: Clinical nurses play a crucial role in providing a meaningful learning environment when mentoring nursing students. Active collaborative learning models are increasingly being implemented in clinical placements in nursing education and it is important to explore the experiences of mentoring nurses when implementing such models. In our study, a model where one mentor supports a learning cell of two students, again being supported by a team of two persons in joint positions, was explored.

Design: The study had a qualitative design, interviewing mentors in focus groups about their experiences with mentoring nursing students in a new, collaborative model.

Methods: Twenty-seven mentors were interviewed in six focus groups. The data from the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Two main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) navigating to find the mentor role in a new approach and (2) sharing responsibility for student mentoring.

Conclusions: Mentors in active, collaborative learning models can experience a shift from emphasis on developing a close relationship with one student to emphasis on supporting a learning cell of two students in organising their learning. When introducing new models to practice learning it is essential to also provide a supportive structure for the mentors.

Relevance to clinical practice: Active collaborative learning models have the potential to provide more clinical placements of high quality. Nurses who mentor students need support. A supportive environment being facilitated by academic-practice collaboration provide a community of practice on mentoring for nurses.

Patient or public contribution: The result of the research was shared and discussed with stakeholders prior to submitting the article for publication.