Design: A three year research programme commenced to follow the progress of a mentoring project through the three years of the BN programme and into the first year of practice. Students were introduced to possible mentors and independently given freedom to seek out a local mentor.

Population, Sample, Setting, Years: The research follows a class of thirty students. The mean age of the class is thirty-seven with all but three being female.

Variables studied together: The research looks at who seeks mentors, at what time in their education and if these mentoring relationships last. A correlation between learning styles and choice of mentor is considered.

Methods: This qualitative project uses storytelling interviews from a critical hermeneutical standpoint to explore mentoring. The use of focus groups allow a wider dialogue aimed at communicating insights about the topics back to the participants themselves in a reflective process which is critical and emancipatory in nature.

Findings: This research remains in progress. There is emerging correlation between student learning styles and seeking a mentor. Those with a circular learning pattern appear to find a mentor more useful to their studies than the traditional academic support services. Students need continuing support to establish such a relationship. This cohort currently has high success and low attrition rates.

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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 21, 2004