Following publication of my PhD thesis and subsequent publications, which focussed on how mentors can be supported when working with students who are struggling, I was invited to sit on the Nursing and Midwifery Council Thought Leadership Group and advise on development of new professional standards for nurses. A number of recommendations from my study have been accepted by the NMC and form parts of the new standards. These are:
- Split the mentor role so that students have a supervisor and an assessor to reduce role conflict
- Simplify professional standards/competencies/proficiencies and write them in a way which is accessible to the public
- Enhance practice partner influence in practical assessment policies and processes at local level
As part of the work for the NMC I convened and facilitated a sub-group of nurse educators who had undertaken research around practical assessment and drew together the findings and inform these studies, providing the NMC with concise insight into the issues which needed to be addressed and potential solutions.
I have also worked with a colleague to develop an "App", now available for both Apple and Android mobiles in the app store, which addresses the need identified in the study, for accessible support for mentors in practice.
I am currently working with the Pan Midlands and East Group to develop a standard regional Practical Assessment Document which was a further recommendation of the study.