A mixed‐methods study exploring sign‐off mentorship practices in relation to the Nursing and Midwifery Council standards

Aims and objectives To investigate the current practice and experience of sign‐off mentors in one NHS trust. Background In the UK, sign‐off mentors support nursing students in their last clinical placement and are accountable for the final assessment of fitness to practice as a registered nurse. Design Mixed‐methods study. Methods The focus was on two key Nursing and Midwifery Council standards: the requirement for students to work at least 40% of their time on clinical placement with a sign‐off mentor/mentor; the sign‐off mentor had one‐hour‐per‐week protected time to meet the final placement student. Data were collected through two audits of clinical and university documents and an experience survey administered to all sign‐off mentors in one trust. Results The audits showed that only 22/42 (52%) of students were supervised by their sign‐off mentor/mentor at least 40% of the time, whilst 10/42 (24%) students never worked a shift with their sign‐off mentor. Only one student met their sign‐off mentor every week. Complete data were available in 31/64 (47%) sign‐off mentors, of whom 21/30 (70%) rarely/never had reduced clinical commitment to mentor final placement students. Furthermore, 19/28 (68%) met their student after their shift had ended with 24/30 (80%) reporting not getting any protected time. Conclusion Sign‐off mentors have inadequate time and resources to undertake their role, yet are accountable for confirming the student has the required knowledge and skills to practise safely. The current model needs urgent review to improve mentoring standards. Relevance to clinical practice Understanding how the role of the sign‐off mentor is working in practice is critical to ensuring that the Nursing and Midwifery Council standards are met, ensuring students are well supported and appropriately assessed in practice, and mentoring is given the high profile it deserves to guarantee high‐quality care and protecting the public.