title: Self-assessment of clinical nurse mentors as dimensions of professional development and the capability of developing ethical values at nursing students: A correlational research study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Providing adequate training for mentors, fostering a positive mentorship culture and establishing the necessary operational procedures for ensuring mentorship quality are the keys to effective clinical mentoring of nursing students.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the research was to explain different dimensions of clinical mentors' professional development and their capability of developing ethical values in nursing students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-experimental quantitative research design was employed. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire administered to the population of clinical mentors (N=143). The total number of questions was 36. Descriptive statistics were used, and bivariate analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The professional development of clinical nurse mentors was explained (R(2)=0.256) by career advancement (p=0.000), research and learning (p=0.024) and having a career development plan (p=0.043). Increased professional self-confidence (R(2)=0.188) was explained by career advancement (p=0.000) and the time engaged in record keeping (p=0.028). Responsibility for the development of ethical values in nursing students (R(2)=0.145) was explained by the respondents' level of education (p=0.020) and research and learning (p=0.024). Applying ethical principles and norms into practice (R(2)=0.212) was explained by self-assessed knowledge in ethics (p=0.037) and research and learning (p=0.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical nurse mentors tended to lack a career development plan, had low work time spent on research and insufficiently participated in education and training activities, which turned out to be significant explanatory factors of their professional development and their capability of developing ethical values in nursing students. The research showed that nursing and higher education managers often failed to assume responsibility for the professional development of clinical nurse mentors.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Care Jesenice, Spodnji Plavž 3, 4270 Jesenice, Slovenia. Electronic address: bskelasavic@fzj.si.
authors.forename: Brigita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skela-Savič
authors.affiliation: Advanced Studies in Nursing & Midwifery, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom; Faculty of Health Care Jesenice, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education*; D035863:Moral Development; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods*; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Career; Learning; Mentor; Nurse; Nursing managers; Research; Self-confidence