Managerial perceptions of mentor, lecturer practitioner and link tutor roles.
Educating pre-registration nurses in clinical practice is a global issue. Within different countries problems exist in educating and supervising students in clinical practice and various models of clinical education are employed. In Wales, United Kingdom, this responsibility is divided between mentors, lecturer practitioners and link tutors. This paper reports on the third phase of a three-phase study in Wales to explore differences between mentors, lecturer practitioners and link tutors, and how they work together to assist students to integrate theory and practice. Four focus group interviews of National Health Service managers and Higher Education managers (n=22) were conducted. Qualitative content analysis revealed four themes: role characteristics and competencies, role differences, role conflict, and future options. The findings suggest a theory-practice continuum along which mentors, lecturer practitioners and link tutors occupy different positions. The article explores these different positions and offers suggestions for future role development.
Carnwell
Ros
R
North East Wales Institute, Wrexham, Wales LL11 2AW, UK. r.carnwell@newi.ac.uk
Baker
Sally-Ann
SA
Bellis
Mike
M
Murray
Ruth
R
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors; D017145:Models, Educational; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009734:Nursing Faculty Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales