%0 Journal Article
%T The prot¨¦g¨¦ and the sage: students¡¯ perceptions of work-based mentoring experiences
%A M Harris
%J Health SA Gesondheid
%D 2007
%I AOSIS OpenJournals
%X Mentoring is offered as a supportive learning strategy within an educational programme for mature multi-cultural South African nurses. This paper considers the literature, describes mentoring within a nursing management course, and uses the findings to illustrate students¡¯ mentoring experience through the following three themes: (1) Mentoring as a teaching strategy: Initial considerations; (2) Mentoring as a process; and (3) Consequences of mentoring as a teaching strategy. Self-reports, based on two questions, describe the perceptions 16 post-basic students have of mentoring as a means of scaffolded learning through the voicing of their ¡®authentic¡¯ experiences. This study forms a component of a larger qualitative case study of a management course using action research within the critical genre. A way forward is suggested that can promote both the mentor/mentee relationship and meaningful learning. Students paid particular attention to the difficulties of choosing mentors, engaging in and ¡®negotiating¡¯ the process and maintaining the relationship. They recognised the value of ¡®special people¡¯ (not necessarily in their discipline), in their professional development and noted the need for mutual commitment to the process to achieve mutual benefits.
%U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/hsa/article/view/54957