Factors influencing the clinical mentoring of nursing students at a hospital in the North West Province

Abstract

IntroductionClinical mentoring is a strategy designed to improve the clinical competencies of nursing students after completion of their training. Effective clinical mentoring of nursing students during training leads to highly competent and skilled professional nurses which ultimately leads to quality nursing care of patients. However, clinical mentoring has been confronted with challenges globally which could have severe implications on the competency of nursing students as future professionals and consequently affects the nursing profession. PurposeThe purpose of the study was to explore and describe the factors influencing the clinical mentoring of nursing students at a hospital in the North West Province. MethodsThe research employed a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research design. The population of the study were all professional nurses working at a hospital in the North West Province. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select participants. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews. The research sample was determined by data saturation which was reached after interviewing fourteen participants. The researchers, supervisor and co-coder separately analysed data using Tesch's eight steps in the Coding Process. ResultsTwo main themes were extracted from the data: student and mentors related factors. Both themes emerged as the promoters and hindrances of clinical mentoring. ConclusionsGrounded in the findings of this research it can be concluded that there are factors promoting and hindering clinical mentoring of nursing students. However, the findings suggest that there is a need for in-service training for professional nurses on the concept clinical mentoring, as it is not clearly understood.