Open University launches courses to help nurses develop as mentors

The Open University has launched a mentoring programme for nurses.

The university’s nursing team has developed a mentorship programme, endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), including a free 24-hour training session called Facilitating Learning in Practice, which comes under the university's Badged Open Course (BOC). This focuses on mentorship skills and explores the principles and best practices underpinning mentorship in healthcare practice.

The second course, for practicing nurses who are supported by their employer, entails assessment of a practice-based portfolio. Practising nurses can register for the Facilitating Learning in Practice: Mentorship Portfolio Assessment and successful completion will provide evidence of eligibility to enter locally held registers for nursing mentors.

The programme allows for workplace learning so that more nurses can become registered mentors without the need to take time out from their working role. It also adds to their continuing professional development training hours.

The OU’s programme has been commended by the NMC review panel for ‘providing an innovative, flexible mentorship programme, evidenced by the online professional forum, the learning activities that engage students and the mentorship portfolio’.

OU head of nursing department Jan Draper said: ‘A shortage of trained mentors is a serious challenge to the current plans to increase the registered nurse workforce. The OU’s new and innovative courses will be a welcome option for employers seeking to develop mentors in the workplace and therefore help to grow the numbers of qualified nurses.’

Find out more about the BOC Facilitating Learning in Practice

Find out more about the Facilitating Learning in Practice: Mentorship Portfolio Assessment