Workbook to Evidence the Achievement of Sign-off NURSE Mentor Status Personal Details

Workbook to Evidence the Achievement of Sign-off NURSE Mentor Status Personal Details Name Workplace Address Contact Telephone Email Supporting Sign Off Mentor Sign Off Workshop Facilitator Practice Learning Facilitator/Practice Placement Facilitator Date / Venue of Sign Off Workshop Index This workbook is split into five sections. The first section introduces the mentor to the rationale for achieving sign off mentor status. The second section contains the documentation needed to work alongside a colleague who is a sign off mentor. The third section contains a number of scenarios to be completed, the fourth section contains the documentation needed for the third and final sign off observation and the final section contains some suggested reading. Section Page No Section One: Introduction 1 Section Two: Working with a sign off mentor 4 Section Three: Scenarios 9 Section Four: Third and final sign off 13 observation Section Five: Suggested Reading 20 09/07/14 PJ/FM

SECTION ONE; INTRODUCTION This workbook has been designed in partnership with the University of York and should be read in conjunction with the NMC Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice SLAiP(2008). The release of the NMC Circular 05/2010 recognised that achieving Sign-off mentor status through assessment of students in practice may take some time to achieve. This workbook is designed to allow nurses and midwives who are currently annotated on their local mentor database as a Registered mentor, to progress to Sign-off mentor by building upon the activities undertaken during the University of York Mentorship Preparation Programme or previous mentorship experience. Guidance for Completion This workbook should be undertaken with support from the Link Lecturer and/or Practice Learning Facilitator/Practice Placement Facilitator (PLF/PPF) for your area and under the supervision of the Supervising Sign Off Mentor (SOM) in your workplace. In order to be identified as a Sign-off mentor four activities should be completed. 1. Attendance at a local Sign Off mentor workshop (FROM APRIL 2012 THIS HAS BEEN INCORPORATE INTO DAY 5 OF THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK MPP PROGRAMME) 2. Completion of the scenarios in this workbook 3. Sign-off a final year, final placement student in your area 4. Completion and return of the Statement of Achievement to the appropriate mentor register administrator (MRA) Further details and guidance on how to complete these activities are contained within the workbook. What does the NMC say about the Sign-off mentor? Following the publication of the NMC Standards to support learning and assessment in practice (2006, 2008), a Sign-off mentor, who has met additional criteria, must make the final assessment of practice and confirm to the NMC that their student has achieved the required standards for safe and effective practice entry to the register. It is important that you are familiar with the content of the NMC Standards to support learning and assessment in practice (2008). You can access via the link below: http://www.nmc-uk.org/publications/standards 1

Who needs a Sign-off mentor? Sign-off mentors are required for all learners undertaking an NMC approved programme, (commenced after September 2007) for their final placement assessment. Pre-registration nursing students during their final practice experience. Nurses undertaking Return to Practice Courses Registered nurses undertaking another field of practice programme e.g. Adult Field to Child Field Midwifery students require a Sign-off mentor for all of their placements NMC Criteria to be achieved to become a Sign-off mentor The NMC identified that a Sign-off Mentor should meet the following criteria: Be experienced mentors, identified on the local database, on the same part (or sub part) of the register and working in the same field of practice as that in which the student intends to achieve registration Have clinical currency and capability (experienced nurse within the area of practice and clinically up to date) Have a working knowledge of current programme requirements, practice assessment strategies and relevant changes in education and practice for the student they are assessing Have an in-depth understanding of their accountability to the NMC for the decision they make to pass or fail a final placement student when assessing their proficiency at the end of a programme Support for Sign-off mentors There are a variety of support mechanisms in place to support the Sign-off mentor. The Practice Learning Facilitator (PLF)/Practice Placement Facilitator (PPF), and Link Lecturer are the main personnel you can contact in regards to students assessment, proficiency and entry to the NMC Register. The Sign-off mentor should not be making the Fitness to Practice decision on their own; to increase validity and reliability of the assessment the sign-off mentor should seek validation for their assessment decision with other members of the MDT, mentors, previous mentors and client group. As with any mentoring/assessing relationship, it is essential that any concerns about the student s progress and performance identified during the placement period, are brought to the attention of the student, Link Lecturer and PLF/PPF as soon as possible to obtain support and advice. 2

Accountability and your Assessment Decision As a professional, you are personally accountable for all actions and omissions in your practice and you must always be able to justify your decisions. NMC (2008:1) The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. The Sign-off mentor, who has met the NMC additional criteria for assessing proficiency, is responsible and accountable for making the final sign off in practice confirming that the student has successfully completed all practice requirements. NMC (2008:32)Standards to support learning and assessment in practice. Throughout the student s programme, all mentors who have assessed students as competent are accountable for their decision to allow the student to progress through to the next stage of their programme. As the Sign-off mentor, your assessment decision to pass/fail should be based on the evidence provided by reviewing the student s achievement throughout the programme and from a range of assessment activities during their final placement. You are confirming that the student has demonstrated to you that they meet the competencies to undertake the role of either a newly registered nurse/midwife, or have met the appropriate competencies for entry to a particular part of the NMC register. When a sign-off mentor has made the decision that the student has achieved all the required competencies and has passed their final placement outcomes, the University presents this information, alongside evidence of successful completion of the programmes academic components, to the NMC to enable them to enter the NMC register. You are accountable for the assessment decision you make using the range of evidence available to you at the time. In making your assessment, consider: Was the student able to demonstrate to you effective, safe practice commensurate with a newly qualified practitioner? Did you take the previous mentor reports into consideration? If there were any concerns from previous or current reports about the student s progress and development, have they been resolved? Did you consult with other relevant members of the placement team? 3

SECTION TWO; WORKING WITH A SUPERVISING SIGN OFF MENTOR (SOM) The first activity relates to the NMC sign off criteria outlined below. Sign off criteria 1. Clinical currency and capability in the field of practice in which the student is being assessed. 2. Met the NMC requirements to remain on the local register. 3. Been supervised on at least three occasions for signing off competency at the end of a progression point by an existing sign-off mentor or practice teacher. 4. A working knowledge of current programme requirements, practice assessment strategies and relevant changes in education and practice for the students they are assessing. 5. An understanding of the NMC registration requirements and the contribution they make to meet these requirements. 6. An in-depth understanding of their accountability to the NMC for the decision they make to pass or fail a student when assessing proficiency at a progression point. Evidence required Identify any development needs regarding clinical currency and capability and record how and when these needs will be addressed. The resulting development plan 1 (if needed) must be addressed via continuing professional development. Mentored at least 2 students within the three year period of the triennial review Participated in annual updating (at least one annual update in the three year cycle must include an opportunity to meet and explore assessment and supervision issues with other mentors) Explored as a group activity the validity and reliability of judgements made when assessing practice in challenging circumstances Mapped ongoing development in their role against the current NMC mentor standard (using the development plan below). To fully meet the criteria, the registered mentor will need to sign-off competency on three occasions using the documentation provided 2. On completion the documentation must be presented to the manager or the person with responsibility for the local register of mentors for the specific placement setting. Registered mentors will develop knowledge of University of York programme requirements and assessment strategies through their participation in the programme. Those who mentor students from other education provider organisations must ensure they are fully conversant with the requirements of those programmes. This will normally be through attending a mentor update. If there is a need for this additional activity it must be recorded in your development plan 1 with relevant evidence recorded in your portfolio. This may be met through participation in a recent mentor update. This may be met through participation in a recent mentor update. 09/07/14 PJ/FM

Using the following documentation you must provide your supervising sign off mentor (SOM) with evidence of meeting the above NMC criteria for sign-off mentor status. Simulated Sign Off Observation Standards form Meeting the NMC standards I EVIDENCE Working knowledge of current programme requirements and practice assessment strategies The observed mentor will; a) provide an account to the supervising sign off mentor of their knowledge of the current curriculum and programme requirements of the curriculum relating to the Higher Education Institution of the student they are assessing b) be observed by the (SOM) using a variety of assessment strategies which should include assessment of skills, attitudes and behaviour. c) provide evidence to the SOM of documenting assessment from the Continuous Assessment of Practice record (CAP) e.g. learning contracts, documenting student progress, outcomes and performance records, practice skills document completion. Signature of sign off mentor: Print sign off mentor name: 5

II EVIDENCE Understanding of the NMC registration requirements and the contribution they make to these requirements The observed mentor will; a) provide evidence to SOM of understanding the NMC registration requirements relating to Good Health and Character b) Provide evidence to SOM of student achievement or lack of achievement. c) Provide evidence to the SOM relating to decisions about the student s achievement of proficiency at the end of the placement. d) Demonstrate to SOM continuing professional development and having current knowledge of the relevant NMC approved programmes. Signature of sign off mentor: Print sign off mentor name: 6

III identify an in depth understanding of their accountability to the NMC in relation to assessing student ability to meet proficiency requirements at the end of a pre-registration nursing programme The observed mentor will; a) reflect on their experiences and their accountabilty as a sign off mentor providing evidence to the SOM of an indepth understanding of their accountability in relation to assessing student ability b) Liaise with others involved in the student practice experience such as other sign-off mentors, mentors, liaison/link lecturers to seek clarification if necessary c) Maintain comprehensive, accurate and legible records relating to the student experience and assessment. EVIDENCE Signature of sign off mentor: Print sign off mentor name: 7

IV EVIDENCE Demonstrate a range of evidence to make safe judgements about a student capability for safe and effective practice without supervision The observed mentor will; a) provide evidence of a range of activities used in supporting the pre registration student b) supervise students in learning situations and providing them with constructive feedback on their achievements. Signature of sign off mentor: Print sign off mentor name: 8

SECTION THREE; THE SCENARIOS Choose three out of the following five scenarios and complete a reflective description using the Reflective Description of the Scenario s format provided after the scenarios. A. In week 2 you begin to realise that your student is struggling to demonstrate the required level of practice for entry onto the register. Although kind, caring and always willing to help, he seems to have difficulty in prioritising and co-ordinating care. Within his assessment documentation he has passed all prior assessments and the only comment made by previous mentors has been needs to develop confidence in his nursing skills. B. Your student has been off sick for 4 days and late for work twice and now appears uninterested and disengaged from the team. You notice that her Placement Attendance Records in previous placements demonstrate quite a bit of intermittent sickness and absence. In addition, some of the totals for the hours worked don t add up. You are concerned that she has missed so much practice experience that she has been unable to demonstrate repeated achievement of her competencies and may fall short of the 2300 hours of practice experience required to register. C. Your student is a mature learner who, before starting nurse education, worked as a health care assistant in your practice area. She is enthusiastic, demonstrates good communication skills and is popular both with patients and staff. You have noticed that she works energetically but as a health care assistant and not as a third year student nurse.the initial interviews with previous mentors across both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the programme report her desire to concentrate on basic skills. All of her final reports consistently refer to both her hard working nature and her lack of confidence. D. Your student is friendly, popular with staff and patients and has excellent verbal communication skills. However, he can be slow when performing tasks, lacks confidence, is poorly organised and can be rather clumsy. You also notice that his documentation can be inaccurate and inadequate. He has previously failed a Stage 2 placement due to similar issues but completed the action plan successfully and progressed. He has been honest about how difficult he finds practice but is obviously desperately keen to continue and to qualify as a registered nurse. E. The student has passed her final summative placement in your workplace and has now moved onto her elective. The mentor and you had found her competent but lacking in confidence when performing clinical skills and she tends to delegate tasks. You receive a call from the student s elective placement who state they find the student over confident and a bit of a know it all. She is frequently late, surly and needs encouragement to contribute to care. When they challenge herthestudentstates that she has met all required outcomes across the programme and her performance in the elective doesn t matter. 09/07/14 PJ/FM

Reflective Descriptions of the Scenarios Format It is suggested that you use the Driscoll (1994) model of reflection. This is a simple model which starts with basic description and answering the questions below. These descriptions will form the basis for your sign off mentor workshop activity. The facilitator of this workshop will ensure this activity is complete. Failure to do this may result in your failure to progress to SOM status. Scenario Number One Which scenario are you using? What are the key aspects of the situation? What is your initial reaction to this scenario? Why do you think you reacted like this? What might you do in this situation? Who might you need to involve? What might you need to find out? 10

Scenario Number Two Which scenario are you using? What are the key aspects of the situation? What is your initial reaction to this scenario? Why do you think you reacted like this? What might you do in this situation? Who might you need to involve? What might you need to find out? 11

Scenario Number Three Which scenario are you using? What are the key aspects of the situation? What is your initial reaction to this scenario? Why do you think you reacted like this? What might you do in this situation? Who might you need to involve? What might you need to find out? 12

SECTION FOUR; THIRD AND FINAL SIGN OFF OBSERVATION Standard One: Organising and communicating the sign off experience Number Action I. The Organisational representative/education link will identify the student to be observed prior to the student attending the practice experience II. The sign-off mentor (SOM), student and observed mentor will agree the date/time and duration of the sign off experience at the initial interview or before the interim interview. III. Students and mentor will contact the Link lecturer within 24 hours of the sign off experience if they need to discuss practice-related issues exposed by the sign off experience. Standard Two: Meeting the NMC standards Number Action I. The sign off mentor (SOM) will be remain responsible and accountable for the simulation and actual sign off outcomes. II. The mentor will remain accountable as an NMC SlaiP (2008) Stage 2 registered mentor and will be on the same part of the NMC register as the student III. The mentor will complete the CAP record as appropriate when assessing the student IV. The SOM will complete the supervising sign off mentor section of the CAP record alongside the observed mentor signature V. The observed mentor should provide evidence of prioritising their time in order to ensure they have achieved 1 hour protected time per week of the student practice experience to review previous CAP documentation VI. The mentor will complete the following activities to meet the standard outlined in bold: Working knowledge of current programme requirements and practice assessment strategies 09/07/14 PJ/FM

EVIDENCE The observed mentor will; d) provide an account to the sign off mentor of their knowledge of the current curriculum and programme requirements of the curriculum relating to the Higher Education Institution of the student they are assessing e) be observed by the (SOM) using a variety of assessment strategies which should include assessment of skills, attitudes and behaviour. f) provide evidence to the SOM of documenting assessment from the Continuous Assessment of Practice record (CAP) e.g. learning contracts, documenting student progress, outcomes and performance records, skills diary completion) Signature of sign off mentor: Print sign off mentor name: 14

VII. Understanding of the NMC registration requirements and the contribution they make to these requirements EVIDENCE The observed mentor will; e) provide evidence to SOM of understanding the NMC registration requirements relating to Good Health and Character f) Provide evidence to SOM of student achievement or lack of achievement in the NMC outcomes and proficiencies. g) Provide evidence to the SOM relating to decisions about the student s achievement of proficiency at the end of the placement. h) Demonstrate to SOM continuing professional development and having current knowledge of the relevant NMC approved programmes. Signature of sign off mentor: Print sign off mentor name: 15

VIII EVIDENCE Identify an in depth understanding of their accountability to the NMC in relation to assessing student ability to meet proficiency requirements at the end of a pre-registration nursing programme The observed mentor will; d) reflect on their experiences and their accountabilty as a sign off mentor providing evidence to the SOM of an indepth understanding of their accountability in relation to assessing student ability e) Liaise with others involved in the student practice experience such as other sign-off mentors, mentors, liaison/link lecturers to seek clarification if necessary f) Maintain comprehensive, accurate and legible records relating to the student experience and assessment. Signature of sign off mentor: Print sign off mentor name: 16

VIIII EVIDENCE Demonstrate a range of evidence to make safe judgements about a student capability for safe and effective practice without supervision The observed mentor will; c) provide evidence of a range of activities used in supporting the pre registration student d) Supervise students in learning situations and providing them with constructive feedback on their achievements. Signature of sign off mentor: Print sign off mentor name: Standard Three: Completion of the sign off experience Number Action I. Ensure all forms are completed appropriately. II. On successful completion of the sign off experience the statement of achievement must be signed by the SOM III. The observed sign off mentor should photocopy and send one copy of the statement of achievement to the appropriate mentor register administrator http://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/practice-ed-support/register-mentor/ IV. The mentor register administrator will annotate the mentor register to identify the sign off mentor status 17

FINAL SIGN OFF OBSERVATION FORM Name of applicant for sign-off mentor status Name of student on programme leading to registration or recordable qualification being supervised and assessed by above named Name of observing sign-off mentor Practice experience area name Practice experience address The above named applicant for sign-off mentor status has made an appropriate and safe decision during the third and final observed simulation that the above named student has met, or not met, the NMC standards of competency in practice (2008). Signature of Observing Sign-off Mentor: Date: On completion please RETAIN THIS FORM, YOUR COMPLETED WORKBOOK AND YOUR CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE AT THE SIGN OFF MENTOR WORKSHOP in your portfolio to be used at your triennial review. 18

STATEMENT OF ACHIEVEMENT Once all the relevant documentation including the workbook is completed the registered mentor should then complete and submit a copy of this page ONLY to the local register administrator. NAME OF REGISTERED MENTOR (please print):.... NAME OF WORKPLACE: CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER: NAME OF SUPERVISING SIGN OFF MENTOR (please print): VERIFICATION OF COMPLETION OF SIMULATED WORKSHOP AND SCENARIOS BY PRACTICE LEARNING FACILITATOR/PRACTICE PLACEMENT FACILITATOR (PLF/PPF)* In my professional opinion I am satisfied that..(the registered mentor) has provided sufficient evidence of completion of the simulated workshop and scenarios. PRINT VERIFYING PLF/PPF NAME:. VERIFYING PLF/PPF SIGNATURE:. DATE:... THE NMC CRITERIA FOR SIGN-OFF MENTOR STATUS HAS BEEN MET In my professional opinion I am satisfied that..(the registered mentor) has provided sufficient evidence of meeting the NMC criteria for sign-off mentor status. Signature of Supervising Sign-off Mentor: Date: PRINT NAME: (Block Capitals) Signature of Registered Mentor: Date:. *If the simulated sign off workshop was undertaken as part of Mentor Preparation Programme please provide evidence to PPF/PLF. 09/07/14 PJ/FM

SUGGESTED READING LIST Andrews, M., Brewer, M., Buchan, T., Denne, A., Hardy, G., Jacobs, L., McKenzie, L. & west, S. (2010) Implementation and Sustainability of the Nursing and Midwifery Standards for Mentoring in the UK. Nurse Education in Practice. Vol. 10(5), pp 251-258. Dadge, J., & Casey, D. (2009) Supporting Mentors in Clinical Practice.Paediatric Nursing. Vol. 21 (10), pp 35-37. Driscoll J. (1994) Reflective practice for practise. Senior Nurse. Vol.13 Jan/Feb. 47-50 Elcock, K. &Sharples, K. (2011) A Nurse s Survival Guide to Mentoring. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Fisher, M. (2009) How can Midwifery Sign-off Mentors be Supported in their Role? An Evidence-based Discussion of the Challenges Facing Clinicians, Managers and academics.midrs Midwifery Digest Vol. 19 (3) pp 319-324. Glasper, A. (2010) Additional Options for Achieving Sign-off Mentor Criteria.British Journal of Nursing.Vol 19 (10) pp 658-659. Gopee, N. (2011) Mentoring and Supervision in Healthcare. 2 nd Edition. London: Sage. Murray, C., Rosen, L. &Stanilard, K. (Eds).(2010) The Nurse Mentor and Reviewer Update Book. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Nursing & Midwifery Council (2008).Standards to support learning and assessment in practice.2 nd Edition. London: NMC. Nursing & Midwifery Council (2008) The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. Access via http://www.nmc-uk.org/nurses-andmidwives/the-code/the-code-in-full/ Nursing & Midwifery Council (2010)Sign off Mentor Criteria. Circular 05/2010. Access via: http://www.nmc-uk.org/documents/circulars/2010circulars/nmccircular05_2010-1.pdf Walsh, D. (2010) The Nurse Mentor s Handbook: Supporting Students in Clinical Practice. Maidenhead: Open University Press. 20