Objective:To assess the clinical competency of nursing interns and the perception of clinical nurse mentors toward student nurses'clinical competency.Methods:A study was carried out among 104 nursing interns and 2...Objective:To assess the clinical competency of nursing interns and the perception of clinical nurse mentors toward student nurses'clinical competency.Methods:A study was carried out among 104 nursing interns and 26 clinical nurse mentors using the purposive sampling technique.A self-repor ted perception scale was used to collect the data.Results:In general,most nursing interns perceived themselves as clinically competent during the internship.The clinical nurse mentors too repor ted that the current internship is helping the nursing interns in becoming competent.Conclusions:Frequent clinical evaluation,buddy system,provision of stipends,good leadership,and coordination between the academic institute and hospital are repor ted as the critical motivating factors for improving the clinical competency of student interns.展开更多
The study was designed to examine the effectiveness of mentors’work with immigrant children and adolescents at risk,using the Elements Way,an educational model designed to facilitate achievement of goals and transfor...The study was designed to examine the effectiveness of mentors’work with immigrant children and adolescents at risk,using the Elements Way,an educational model designed to facilitate achievement of goals and transformation.The three central elements of the method are positive communication(speaking the language of love),acceptance,and connecting with one’s strength.This mixed-method study was conducted in 2012-2015,on a sample of 640 mentors working with 3,350 immigrantchildren in Israel.Improvement has been demonstrated in the personal,social,and emotional functioning of the children and youths,as well as in their academic achievement and especially language acquisition.Significant differences were found in the mentors’work with the children.展开更多
Tutors and graduate students are a force that can not be ignored in the scientific research team of colleges and universities.Understanding the construction of the ubiquitous influence of mentors on graduate students ...Tutors and graduate students are a force that can not be ignored in the scientific research team of colleges and universities.Understanding the construction of the ubiquitous influence of mentors on graduate students is of great significance to strengthen the ubiquitous influence among students,promote the interaction between teachers and students,and improve the quality of graduate education in colleges and universities.Based on 28 interview data,this paper collates and analyzes the ubiquitous influence by using Nvivo11.0 software,and summarizes the ubiquitous influence into three aspects,namely,the basis of ubiquitous influence-spatio-temporal dispersion,the process-mode diversity of ubiquitous influence,and the comprehensiveness of the result-result of ubiquitous influence,and constructs the concept of tutor’s ubiquitous influence on graduate students.展开更多
Introduction and Background: Registered nurses’ transit to the clinical placement areas after completing a three-year Bachelor of Nursing training. They should be supported by nurse leaders and nurse educators;to gai...Introduction and Background: Registered nurses’ transit to the clinical placement areas after completing a three-year Bachelor of Nursing training. They should be supported by nurse leaders and nurse educators;to gain confidence and the ability to perform critical care nursing, deal with high patient numbers, the ability to work independently and manage relationships with providers, families and the interprofessional team. Methods: A qualitative research design was employed to explore two important aspects of nursing professionalism. Firstly, the sentiments of senior registered nurses about professional mentorship of newly graduated nurses NGNs. Secondly the strategies employed by senior nurses to assist the transition of NGNs to professional nursing. Two nurse unit managers (NUM) participated as key informants. Results: Two themes will be discussed from the pilot study: Responsibilities and challenges faced by senior nurses while they supervise (NGNs) in their wards. Senior nurses’ workload and responsibilities fully occupy them during the days’ work, leaving very little time to spend supervising the NGNs. The challenges faced by senior nurses are those of restricted time, no proper resources, and mentoring manuals to guide the senior nurses. Discussion: The results of the pilot study present the challenges of senior nurses in supervising and training NGNs during transition, as they must complete the administrative tasks, finalizing rosters, and have direct patient contact. They usually face challenges while supervising the NGNs, sometimes leaving them to work on their own where the NGN is prone to make mistakes during patient care. Conclusion: Support and supervision are key to a successful transition, but senior nurses face difficulties, and challenges in many forms, there are no mentors available for the NGNs in any ward at the CWM Hospital while they train and supervise them during transitions. SNs take up a lot of responsibilities and provide support and supervision to NGNs. Some NGNs have undesirable attitudes that hinder the learning and teaching process. They also acknowledge that NGNs also need to play their role in learning to adapt to the new clinical environment with various challenges they face themselves.展开更多
Purpose:This article identifies an issue in mathematics education,that is,the perceived lack of emphasis in recent times of the roles that the"person"plays in the development of mathematics.The purpose is to...Purpose:This article identifies an issue in mathematics education,that is,the perceived lack of emphasis in recent times of the roles that the"person"plays in the development of mathematics.The purpose is to exami ne how values/valui ng might con tribute to addressi ng the issue.Design/Approach/Methods:“Data”were collected from several purposeful conversations among the three authors.The conversations were audio-recorded and machine-transcribed.The transcript was then subjected to content analysis to identify themes.Findings:The data analysis yielded two novel approaches to raising learners'awareness of the humanness of mathematics.One would be to reframe the values that are operationalized when mathematics is taught and learnt,as processes of valuing which teachers and students engage in,respectively.The sec ond approach would be to ack no wledge that writers of mathematics/mathematicia ns are not simply prese nting kn owledge but are also acti ng as men tors conv eying and transmitting messages about the discipline.Originality/Value:The invoIvement of the"person" in the development of mathematics is not new knowledge,though it can be made more visible in mathematics education.This article identifies two approaches-valuing and mentoring-which are novel in that they are already part of the pedagogical process and thus,accessible.展开更多
We propose a computing model in which individuals can automatically adjust their interaction intensity with their mentor according to the learning effect.This model is designed to investigate the cooperative dynamics ...We propose a computing model in which individuals can automatically adjust their interaction intensity with their mentor according to the learning effect.This model is designed to investigate the cooperative dynamics of the spatial prisoner's dilemma.More specifically,when the cumulative payoff of a learner is more than his reference earning,he will strengthen his interaction with his mentor;otherwise,he will reduce it.The experimental results indicate that this mechanism can improve the emergence of cooperation in a networked population and that the driving coefficient of interaction intensity plays an important role in promoting cooperation.Interestingly,under a certain social dilemma condition,there exists a minimal driving coefficient that leads to optimal cooperation.This occurs due to a positive feedback effect between the individual's satisfaction frequency and the number of effective neighbors.Moreover,we find that the experimental results are in accord with theoretical predictions obtained from an extension of the classical pair-approximation method.Our conclusions obtained by considering relationships with mentors can provide a new perspective for future investigations into the dynamics of evolutionary games within structured populations.展开更多
This study aimed to examine the surface and content validity of the Mentoring Function Scale for Novice Nurses, used to assess the mentoring of entry-level nurses, and to refine the scale items. In Study 1, six nurse ...This study aimed to examine the surface and content validity of the Mentoring Function Scale for Novice Nurses, used to assess the mentoring of entry-level nurses, and to refine the scale items. In Study 1, six nurse education researchers, selected using convenience sampling, with five or more years of nursing experience and experience teaching novice nurses, were invited to an expert meeting in July 2015. A group interview was conducted that lasted approximately 120 minutes. Study 2 examined the content validity index. Between September and November 2015, we distributed a self-administered questionnaire survey to 11 participants selected by convenience sampling. The participants included five nurse education researchers with a minimum of five years of nursing experience and experience teaching novice nurses, as well as six clinical nurses with a master’s degree or higher. Finally, 81 questionnaire items were retained from the initial 125 items. The 81-item Mentoring Function Scale for Novice Nurses had higher content validity than the original scale. To further increase the scale’s applicability, future studies should assess its reliability, construct validity, and criterion-related validity.展开更多
This study aims to address the problems existing in the ideological and political education of postgraduate students,and combines the implementation of the mentor responsibility system to explore the role orientation,...This study aims to address the problems existing in the ideological and political education of postgraduate students,and combines the implementation of the mentor responsibility system to explore the role orientation,work content,and practical effects of mentors in the ideological and political education of postgraduate students.Through questionnaire surveys,interviews,and other research methods,the current situation of ideological and political education of postgraduate students under the mentor responsibility system is analyzed,and corresponding optimization strategies are proposed.展开更多
目的评价基于Lap Mentor的HACCP技术在住培医生腔镜培训质控中的应用效果。方法本研究采用随机对照实验设计,选取2019级未接受过其他任何形式腔镜技术培训的住培医师40名,随机分成实验组及对照组。首先,对两组医生进行理论授课;然后,实...目的评价基于Lap Mentor的HACCP技术在住培医生腔镜培训质控中的应用效果。方法本研究采用随机对照实验设计,选取2019级未接受过其他任何形式腔镜技术培训的住培医师40名,随机分成实验组及对照组。首先,对两组医生进行理论授课;然后,实验组在技能教学中进行基于Lap Mentor的HACCP质控,对照组完成常规课程要求。最后,进行理论考核、基本技能和虚拟实战考核,问卷调查了解学生对基于Lap Mentor的HACCP质控教学的满意度。结果实验组在夹持与抓握、双手动作考核模块中完成率明显高于对照组(65%vs 26%,P<0.05;75%vs 32%,P<0.01);与对照组比较,实验组缝合用时较少(311.7±96.55 vs 428.9±68.54,P<0.01),而进出针准确率较高(54.15±9.01 vs 48.05±9.51,P<0.05);在虚拟胆囊切除考核中,实验组完成人数较多(75%vs 37%,P<0.01),而且手术时间和并发症均明显少于对照组(260.7±166.4 vs 497.9±259.1,P<0.01;0.25±0.55 vs 0.73±0.87,P<0.05);实验组OSATS评分明显高于对照组(88.38±6.203 vs 80.95±12.81,P<0.05)。结论基于Lap Mentor的HACCP技术能帮助住陪医生更好地掌握腔镜技术,具有良好的应用前景。展开更多
在2018年9月的Mentor Forum 2018(Mentor技术论坛)上,Mentor公司(隶属于Siemens工业软件部门)的中国区总经理凌琳先生,介绍了Mentor总裁兼CEO Walden C.Rhines先生对半导体设计行业的观察,分析了三大原因导致了半导体业设计不断加快,并...在2018年9月的Mentor Forum 2018(Mentor技术论坛)上,Mentor公司(隶属于Siemens工业软件部门)的中国区总经理凌琳先生,介绍了Mentor总裁兼CEO Walden C.Rhines先生对半导体设计行业的观察,分析了三大原因导致了半导体业设计不断加快,并认为半导体业还有20年的增速发展期。展开更多
Long confined to early pre-tertiary school-leaver training and often synonymous with academic failure, sandwich training has experienced a remarkable turnaround, debunking common misconceptions and gaining ground in h...Long confined to early pre-tertiary school-leaver training and often synonymous with academic failure, sandwich training has experienced a remarkable turnaround, debunking common misconceptions and gaining ground in higher education. Sandwich training improves academic success rates and school-to-work transition prospects, making it both a pathway to excellence and a gateway into employment by keeping a clear tack in the face of social-economic headwinds---especially for young graduates. The factors involved are primarily education-driven （academic success, best-in-class graduates, and etc.）, but where sandwich training really floats is in the job market, by co-potentializing both school-to-work transition and employability. The Corsica-region University-sponsored Placements ＆ Apprenticeships Service （CFA UNIV）, as regional leader in post-secondary sandwich placement （65% of sandwich-placement students in Corsica）, is therefore structurally engaged as a facilitator of the island-wide economy, providing business and industry with a pipeline of core skill sets while readying them to rise to tomorrow＇s economic and human resources （HR） challenges. This paper attempts to highlight this very real trajectory by reporting the lessons learned from Corsica-region CFA UNIV experience.展开更多
This article looks into how volunteers deal with their biographies and social embeddedness to make sense of their engagement in mentoring before they are matched. It draws on a qualitative investigation on a community...This article looks into how volunteers deal with their biographies and social embeddedness to make sense of their engagement in mentoring before they are matched. It draws on a qualitative investigation on a community-based pilot youth mentoring program for “unaccompanied refugee minors” in Austria. This article reveals how already trained, local adults actively relate to “family,”“migration” and “previous activities” in their meaning-making. It shows how they negotiate their personal life and existing relationships in the process of turning into a future “godparent.” The discussion of findings against the state of the art leads the way to two heuristic claims: firstly, the study provides grounded arguments for an extension of the conventional mentoring concept on the side of the mentor. Secondly, for a more relational and processual approach towards the mentors’ side, both biographical and social network dimensions need to be integrated in methods and designs of youth mentoring research.展开更多
Quality of maternal and newborn care could be improved if health care providers’ knowledge and competencies as well as system level constraints are addressed. However, due to several barriers staff nurses who form th...Quality of maternal and newborn care could be improved if health care providers’ knowledge and competencies as well as system level constraints are addressed. However, due to several barriers staff nurses who form the frontline of health care workforce have limited access to enhancing their clinical knowledge and competencies. To address this gap, a new cadre of nurse mentors (NMs) for the public health system were trained by specialists from a teaching hospital in a special 5-week training course. This included 54 hours of theory and 110 hours of practical in clinical obstetric and newborn care, apart from mentoring, quality improvement and health systems issues. The nurse mentors were assigned to support staff nurses in the primary health care centres (PHCs) in eight northern Karnataka districts. Each NM covered 6-8 PHCs monthly for 2 - 3 days and thus a total of 385 PHCs were reached. They received support in the field through supportive supervision visits done by the specialists who had trained them, as well as by refresher training and clinical postings to the district hospitals. This paper presents impact of the training program on change in immediate and long term knowledge and competency scores of nurse mentors. Their baseline knowledge scores changed from 44.3 ± 12.7 to 72.1 ± 13.8 immediately after the training in obstetric and from 18.2 ± 19.1 to 66.4 ± 14.9 in newborn (p p p > 0.05). Skills score soon after training increased from 62.2 ± 13.2 to 69.6 ± 12.5 in obstetric after a 1 year period and from 52.6 ± 9.3;63.5 ± 14.4 in newborn (p < 0.001) content areas respectively. These findings have implications for those interested in improving quality of maternal and child care through nurse-dependent health delivery systems.展开更多
文摘Objective:To assess the clinical competency of nursing interns and the perception of clinical nurse mentors toward student nurses'clinical competency.Methods:A study was carried out among 104 nursing interns and 26 clinical nurse mentors using the purposive sampling technique.A self-repor ted perception scale was used to collect the data.Results:In general,most nursing interns perceived themselves as clinically competent during the internship.The clinical nurse mentors too repor ted that the current internship is helping the nursing interns in becoming competent.Conclusions:Frequent clinical evaluation,buddy system,provision of stipends,good leadership,and coordination between the academic institute and hospital are repor ted as the critical motivating factors for improving the clinical competency of student interns.
文摘The study was designed to examine the effectiveness of mentors’work with immigrant children and adolescents at risk,using the Elements Way,an educational model designed to facilitate achievement of goals and transformation.The three central elements of the method are positive communication(speaking the language of love),acceptance,and connecting with one’s strength.This mixed-method study was conducted in 2012-2015,on a sample of 640 mentors working with 3,350 immigrantchildren in Israel.Improvement has been demonstrated in the personal,social,and emotional functioning of the children and youths,as well as in their academic achievement and especially language acquisition.Significant differences were found in the mentors’work with the children.
文摘Tutors and graduate students are a force that can not be ignored in the scientific research team of colleges and universities.Understanding the construction of the ubiquitous influence of mentors on graduate students is of great significance to strengthen the ubiquitous influence among students,promote the interaction between teachers and students,and improve the quality of graduate education in colleges and universities.Based on 28 interview data,this paper collates and analyzes the ubiquitous influence by using Nvivo11.0 software,and summarizes the ubiquitous influence into three aspects,namely,the basis of ubiquitous influence-spatio-temporal dispersion,the process-mode diversity of ubiquitous influence,and the comprehensiveness of the result-result of ubiquitous influence,and constructs the concept of tutor’s ubiquitous influence on graduate students.
文摘Introduction and Background: Registered nurses’ transit to the clinical placement areas after completing a three-year Bachelor of Nursing training. They should be supported by nurse leaders and nurse educators;to gain confidence and the ability to perform critical care nursing, deal with high patient numbers, the ability to work independently and manage relationships with providers, families and the interprofessional team. Methods: A qualitative research design was employed to explore two important aspects of nursing professionalism. Firstly, the sentiments of senior registered nurses about professional mentorship of newly graduated nurses NGNs. Secondly the strategies employed by senior nurses to assist the transition of NGNs to professional nursing. Two nurse unit managers (NUM) participated as key informants. Results: Two themes will be discussed from the pilot study: Responsibilities and challenges faced by senior nurses while they supervise (NGNs) in their wards. Senior nurses’ workload and responsibilities fully occupy them during the days’ work, leaving very little time to spend supervising the NGNs. The challenges faced by senior nurses are those of restricted time, no proper resources, and mentoring manuals to guide the senior nurses. Discussion: The results of the pilot study present the challenges of senior nurses in supervising and training NGNs during transition, as they must complete the administrative tasks, finalizing rosters, and have direct patient contact. They usually face challenges while supervising the NGNs, sometimes leaving them to work on their own where the NGN is prone to make mistakes during patient care. Conclusion: Support and supervision are key to a successful transition, but senior nurses face difficulties, and challenges in many forms, there are no mentors available for the NGNs in any ward at the CWM Hospital while they train and supervise them during transitions. SNs take up a lot of responsibilities and provide support and supervision to NGNs. Some NGNs have undesirable attitudes that hinder the learning and teaching process. They also acknowledge that NGNs also need to play their role in learning to adapt to the new clinical environment with various challenges they face themselves.
基金supported by EdUHK Dean s Research Fund(Ref.:DRF/1RS-7/18-19)FLASS Internationalization and Exchange Scheme(Ref.:FLASS/IE D03/18-19).
文摘Purpose:This article identifies an issue in mathematics education,that is,the perceived lack of emphasis in recent times of the roles that the"person"plays in the development of mathematics.The purpose is to exami ne how values/valui ng might con tribute to addressi ng the issue.Design/Approach/Methods:“Data”were collected from several purposeful conversations among the three authors.The conversations were audio-recorded and machine-transcribed.The transcript was then subjected to content analysis to identify themes.Findings:The data analysis yielded two novel approaches to raising learners'awareness of the humanness of mathematics.One would be to reframe the values that are operationalized when mathematics is taught and learnt,as processes of valuing which teachers and students engage in,respectively.The sec ond approach would be to ack no wledge that writers of mathematics/mathematicia ns are not simply prese nting kn owledge but are also acti ng as men tors conv eying and transmitting messages about the discipline.Originality/Value:The invoIvement of the"person" in the development of mathematics is not new knowledge,though it can be made more visible in mathematics education.This article identifies two approaches-valuing and mentoring-which are novel in that they are already part of the pedagogical process and thus,accessible.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.61963013).
文摘We propose a computing model in which individuals can automatically adjust their interaction intensity with their mentor according to the learning effect.This model is designed to investigate the cooperative dynamics of the spatial prisoner's dilemma.More specifically,when the cumulative payoff of a learner is more than his reference earning,he will strengthen his interaction with his mentor;otherwise,he will reduce it.The experimental results indicate that this mechanism can improve the emergence of cooperation in a networked population and that the driving coefficient of interaction intensity plays an important role in promoting cooperation.Interestingly,under a certain social dilemma condition,there exists a minimal driving coefficient that leads to optimal cooperation.This occurs due to a positive feedback effect between the individual's satisfaction frequency and the number of effective neighbors.Moreover,we find that the experimental results are in accord with theoretical predictions obtained from an extension of the classical pair-approximation method.Our conclusions obtained by considering relationships with mentors can provide a new perspective for future investigations into the dynamics of evolutionary games within structured populations.
文摘This study aimed to examine the surface and content validity of the Mentoring Function Scale for Novice Nurses, used to assess the mentoring of entry-level nurses, and to refine the scale items. In Study 1, six nurse education researchers, selected using convenience sampling, with five or more years of nursing experience and experience teaching novice nurses, were invited to an expert meeting in July 2015. A group interview was conducted that lasted approximately 120 minutes. Study 2 examined the content validity index. Between September and November 2015, we distributed a self-administered questionnaire survey to 11 participants selected by convenience sampling. The participants included five nurse education researchers with a minimum of five years of nursing experience and experience teaching novice nurses, as well as six clinical nurses with a master’s degree or higher. Finally, 81 questionnaire items were retained from the initial 125 items. The 81-item Mentoring Function Scale for Novice Nurses had higher content validity than the original scale. To further increase the scale’s applicability, future studies should assess its reliability, construct validity, and criterion-related validity.
基金Chang’an University Graduate Student Ideological and Political Education Innovation Demonstration Pro-ject(No.300103740013)Education Science Research Project of China Association of Transportation Education(No.JT2022YB222)+1 种基金Research Project on Education and Teaching Reform at Chang’an Dublin International College of Transpor-tation at Chang’an University(No.CDIC-JG-200301)Construction Project for Continuous Improvement of National First-Class Courses on Interchangeability and Measurement Technology(No.300103230119)。
文摘This study aims to address the problems existing in the ideological and political education of postgraduate students,and combines the implementation of the mentor responsibility system to explore the role orientation,work content,and practical effects of mentors in the ideological and political education of postgraduate students.Through questionnaire surveys,interviews,and other research methods,the current situation of ideological and political education of postgraduate students under the mentor responsibility system is analyzed,and corresponding optimization strategies are proposed.
文摘目的评价基于Lap Mentor的HACCP技术在住培医生腔镜培训质控中的应用效果。方法本研究采用随机对照实验设计,选取2019级未接受过其他任何形式腔镜技术培训的住培医师40名,随机分成实验组及对照组。首先,对两组医生进行理论授课;然后,实验组在技能教学中进行基于Lap Mentor的HACCP质控,对照组完成常规课程要求。最后,进行理论考核、基本技能和虚拟实战考核,问卷调查了解学生对基于Lap Mentor的HACCP质控教学的满意度。结果实验组在夹持与抓握、双手动作考核模块中完成率明显高于对照组(65%vs 26%,P<0.05;75%vs 32%,P<0.01);与对照组比较,实验组缝合用时较少(311.7±96.55 vs 428.9±68.54,P<0.01),而进出针准确率较高(54.15±9.01 vs 48.05±9.51,P<0.05);在虚拟胆囊切除考核中,实验组完成人数较多(75%vs 37%,P<0.01),而且手术时间和并发症均明显少于对照组(260.7±166.4 vs 497.9±259.1,P<0.01;0.25±0.55 vs 0.73±0.87,P<0.05);实验组OSATS评分明显高于对照组(88.38±6.203 vs 80.95±12.81,P<0.05)。结论基于Lap Mentor的HACCP技术能帮助住陪医生更好地掌握腔镜技术,具有良好的应用前景。
文摘在2018年9月的Mentor Forum 2018(Mentor技术论坛)上,Mentor公司(隶属于Siemens工业软件部门)的中国区总经理凌琳先生,介绍了Mentor总裁兼CEO Walden C.Rhines先生对半导体设计行业的观察,分析了三大原因导致了半导体业设计不断加快,并认为半导体业还有20年的增速发展期。
文摘Long confined to early pre-tertiary school-leaver training and often synonymous with academic failure, sandwich training has experienced a remarkable turnaround, debunking common misconceptions and gaining ground in higher education. Sandwich training improves academic success rates and school-to-work transition prospects, making it both a pathway to excellence and a gateway into employment by keeping a clear tack in the face of social-economic headwinds---especially for young graduates. The factors involved are primarily education-driven （academic success, best-in-class graduates, and etc.）, but where sandwich training really floats is in the job market, by co-potentializing both school-to-work transition and employability. The Corsica-region University-sponsored Placements ＆ Apprenticeships Service （CFA UNIV）, as regional leader in post-secondary sandwich placement （65% of sandwich-placement students in Corsica）, is therefore structurally engaged as a facilitator of the island-wide economy, providing business and industry with a pipeline of core skill sets while readying them to rise to tomorrow＇s economic and human resources （HR） challenges. This paper attempts to highlight this very real trajectory by reporting the lessons learned from Corsica-region CFA UNIV experience.
文摘This article looks into how volunteers deal with their biographies and social embeddedness to make sense of their engagement in mentoring before they are matched. It draws on a qualitative investigation on a community-based pilot youth mentoring program for “unaccompanied refugee minors” in Austria. This article reveals how already trained, local adults actively relate to “family,”“migration” and “previous activities” in their meaning-making. It shows how they negotiate their personal life and existing relationships in the process of turning into a future “godparent.” The discussion of findings against the state of the art leads the way to two heuristic claims: firstly, the study provides grounded arguments for an extension of the conventional mentoring concept on the side of the mentor. Secondly, for a more relational and processual approach towards the mentors’ side, both biographical and social network dimensions need to be integrated in methods and designs of youth mentoring research.
文摘Quality of maternal and newborn care could be improved if health care providers’ knowledge and competencies as well as system level constraints are addressed. However, due to several barriers staff nurses who form the frontline of health care workforce have limited access to enhancing their clinical knowledge and competencies. To address this gap, a new cadre of nurse mentors (NMs) for the public health system were trained by specialists from a teaching hospital in a special 5-week training course. This included 54 hours of theory and 110 hours of practical in clinical obstetric and newborn care, apart from mentoring, quality improvement and health systems issues. The nurse mentors were assigned to support staff nurses in the primary health care centres (PHCs) in eight northern Karnataka districts. Each NM covered 6-8 PHCs monthly for 2 - 3 days and thus a total of 385 PHCs were reached. They received support in the field through supportive supervision visits done by the specialists who had trained them, as well as by refresher training and clinical postings to the district hospitals. This paper presents impact of the training program on change in immediate and long term knowledge and competency scores of nurse mentors. Their baseline knowledge scores changed from 44.3 ± 12.7 to 72.1 ± 13.8 immediately after the training in obstetric and from 18.2 ± 19.1 to 66.4 ± 14.9 in newborn (p p p > 0.05). Skills score soon after training increased from 62.2 ± 13.2 to 69.6 ± 12.5 in obstetric after a 1 year period and from 52.6 ± 9.3;63.5 ± 14.4 in newborn (p < 0.001) content areas respectively. These findings have implications for those interested in improving quality of maternal and child care through nurse-dependent health delivery systems.
