School of Nursing and Midwifery

Developed to meet the needs of busy health care professionals, this exciting and innovative module uses online learning to prepare students for their role as mentors. A range of student-centred activities enable flexible learning with the module being delivered through the online Keele Learning Environment (KLE). One of the advantages of studying online is that you can manage your studies to fit with your other life commitments and, to this end, you will require access to a computer with a broadband internet connection.

For the 15-week duration of the module, you will benefit from the support of a dedicated online tutor and will complete a number of online learning activities, both as an individual and collaboratively with fellow online students. Your mentorship of a student (or students) will be assessed in your work place by a nominated supervisor*, and your online and practice-based activities will feed into the development of an e-portfolio of evidence. In addition, you will be asked to write an essay in which you reflect on your development as a mentor.

This stimulating module will prepare successful students to meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's mentor standards to support learning and assessment in practice.

Testimonial:

 “The tutorial support on this module is second to none” (Nursing & Midwifery Annual Monitoring Report 2012)

This module is available as an elective module within BSc Clinical Practice (multiple pathways) and as a stand alone module.

This module is also available as a face to face module.

The aim of the module is to prepare practitioners for the role of work based mentor. 

Professional / Academic Pre-requisites:

Registration with relevant professional regulatory body (e.g. NMC, HPC)

Evidence of Level 5 (Diploma) academic study or higher

Coordinated access to a learner in your work place

Access to a work place colleague with a mentor qualification (or equivalent) to act as your supervisor

Registered nurses must have 12 months post-registration experience

Technical pre-requisites:

You do not require any specialist software applications in order to complete the module successfully though you will need to have the following:

Access to a computer: As you will be participating in online learning activities, both as an individual and in small groups, you will need to have access to a computer with internet access (preferably broadband)

Word-processing software:  Your work during the module will involve you word-processing documents, saving these and uploading them to the Keele Learning Environment (KLE). In addition, your e-portfolio will be developed using word-processing software

A web browser:  To access the learning activities on the KLE, Keele’s preferred web browser is Mozilla Firefox. This is free to download and install from the internet. Whilst a dial-up internet connection may meet your needs for this module, a broadband connection will reduce download times and most likely enhance your learning experience

An anti-virus programme: As you will be receiving and sending information via your individual Keele email account and the KLE, it is important that you have an anti-virus programme that is regularly updated. Keele does not make any recommendations though some free anti-virus software programmes are available to download from the internet

An email address:  We use your own personal email address to contact you for administrative purposes – usually before the module starts. During the module, we will provide you with a Keele email account and subsequent email communication will be conducted this account

A USB memory stick:  You will need to save your Mentorship Assessment Document and other documents onto a portable device so that you can review evidence with your work-based supervisor. You will need a memory stick with a capacity of at least 500Mb. We advise you to keep back-up copies of your documents at regular intervals.

Details of technical help are available on the Keele website at http://www.keele.ac.uk/it/students/

The context of professional and guided learning experiences in practice settings.

The NHS modernization agenda

Governance

Evidence based practice

Concept of mentorship

The workplace as a learning environment

Cultural context of the workplace

Developing effective working relationships

Integrating learners into practice settings

Facilitating learning

Formal and informal learning

Identifying specific learning needs

Identifying learning opportunities outside the students own workplace

Cognitive apprenticeships

Situated learning in communities of practice

Principles of guided learning (modelling, coaching, articulation and questioning)

Differentiating between learning activities appropriate for the level of the student

Understanding learning styles and promoting autonomous / adult learning

Design, implementation and evaluation of learning and teaching methods

Professional accountability, frameworks, competencies and boundaries

Equality and Diversity

Principles, processes and methods of assessment

Giving constructive feedback

Reflection as an aid to learning

Evaluation of learning

Managing failing students

The role of the mentor as an advocate

Supporting professional development and transition between learning environments

Leadership

Signing off professional competence.