Mentors in waiting

A four stage framework, developed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council for the preparation of nurses and midwives who support learners within practice and educational settings was implemented in the United Kingdom in September 2007. Since then the focus of debate and discussion within the literature has centred on stage 2 of the developmental framework i.e. the mentor role. The three other stages of registrant, practice teacher and teacher have received little attention. This paper argues that currently, the provisions made within the developmental framework in relation to the stage 1 registrant's role in supporting students within practice settings, has yet to be realised. The paper begins by contemplating both the pros and cons of the ‘should all nurses be mentors’ debate. The argument for embracing and utilising the stage 1 role more fully in practice is then presented. The paper concludes by underlining the need to recognise the stage 1 registrants as ‘mentors in waiting’ and the need to support the full potential of their contribution to students' learning and assessment in practice.