Title : Exploring pre-registration nursing students’ experiences of mentorship by new graduate registered nurses (NGRNs) during clinical placement.
Abstract:
Background: Clinical placement supports pre-registration nursing students to develop essential professional skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving, social skills, communication skills, and professional attitudes and ethical principles. Pre-registration nursing students are required to complete 800 hours of clinical placement as part of their degree. The quality of clinical placement can be a positive or negative experience for students. Negative experiences on clinical placement may also be linked to students’ decision to withdraw from their courses.
Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore pre-registration nursing students’ experiences of mentorship by new graduate registered nurses (NGRNs). By identifying the challenges and opportunities associated with this mentoring relationship, steps can be taken to improve the overall learning experience and better prepare future nurses for their professional roles.
Method: A qualitative descriptive design underpinned by naturalistic inquiry will be used.
Data Collection: Purposive and snowball sampling methods will be used to recruit pre-registration nursing students based on their experience of mentoring by NGRNs. Participants will be recruited through Instagram, Facebook™, Australian College of Nursing (ACN) website and data will be collected using semi-structured interviews. Approximately 10-15 participants will be interviewed or until data sufficiency has been reached.
Analysis: The interview transcripts will be analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis.
Conclusion: Findings will provide valuable insights into the dynamics of this mentoring relationship and its influence on the learning experience of pre-registration nursing students.
