title: The mentoring role of the personal tutor in the ;Fitness for practice' curriculum: an all Wales approach.
abstract: Education and training for student nurses has undergone a number of specific changes during the past 10 years. The introduction of the ;Fitness for Practice' curriculum requires improvement to assessment strategies in order to measure students' competence to practice effectively. For this to be achieved, students need to be supported by a mentor in both clinical practice and education who can facilitate the learning and assessment process and ensure quality through development and innovation. Although the concept of mentorship in nurse education is not a new one, the FFP curriculum has provided an opportunity to formally address the personal tutor role and identify key activities in order to enhance the student experience. The personal tutor role is one that involves a relationship for the duration of the three-year educational programme that can only serve to strengthen students' theoretical knowledge to ensure that students are fit for practice, purpose and award at the end of their three-year educational programme.
authors.affiliation: Ty Dewi Sant, Heath Park, School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: J Hughes